News & Announcements

JOB OPENING: Associate Director, Metro North REB (May 3, 2012)

The Metro North Regional Employment Board is seeking an Associate Director to fulfill a broad range of workforce development functions. Click here for PDF of the full job description and information on how to apply.

Malden initiative engages students, employers (May 1, 2012)

Representatives from a broad spectrum of agencies have joined forces to establish the Malden Employer Engagement Initiative (MEEI) — also referred to as the “Malden Team” —with the goal of supporting workforce-related programming for youth in Malden. The Team includes the Metro North Youth Council and Career Centers (Career Source and The Career Place), Malden High School, local community organizations, and the statewide Connecting Activities and MassGrad programs. The initiative’s overarching goal is to align the needs of employers with those of students through promoting employer engagement in and around the city of Malden. This past April, the initiative kicked off with a career fair at Malden High School. Close to forty local businesses and agencies talked with students about a wide range of career choices, and the pathways necessary to enter into, and excel in, specific careers. REB Associate Director Priscilla Golding played a key role in organizing the event. Future MEEI programs and events will be posted on www.mnreb.org.

REB Vice-Chair Antonio de la Serna awarded prestigious Medalla de Oro (April 27, 2012)

The Metro North REB is pleased to announce that REB Vice Chair Antonio de la Serna was recently awarded the Medalla de Oro. This prestigious award, presented by MAES -- a society of Latino engineers and scientists -- recognizes individuals who “have demonstrated outstanding technical and educational innovation, have made significant contributions to science and/or engineering, have a long history of supporting the mission and vision of MAES as well as have personal involvement in the development, operation, and growth of MAES, its membership and chapters.” As part of the award, Mr. de la Serna had the unique opportunity to present a scholarship to a college student in his name, to mark the beginning of a long-term mentoring relationship. For this honor, Mr. de la Serna selected Miquel Sanchez, a chemical engineering student at the University of California, Irvine. 

Mr. de la Serna is a digital design engineer at Draper Laboratory, an independent, not-for-profit research and engineering organization dedicated to solving problems in the national interest. He is also founder and past president of the Greater Boston chapter of MAES, which performs STEM outreach from kindergarten to career. Mr. de la Serna is now the Region 4 vice president on the MAES National Board of Directors.  To read more about Mr. de la Serna’s efforts in STEM, as well as MAES, please visit: www.mymaes.org.

Malden career fair highlights student options (April 23, 2012)

This article was originally published in The Malden Observer, April 23, 2012. 

By Nathan Lamb, Editor, Malden Observer

Malden -- Students received a hands-on look at the job market from some 37 local businesses and organizations, during a recent youth career fair at Malden High School. For more than two hours on April 13, hundreds of students met and chatted with business owners and non-profit directors— discussing what those jobs are like and how to get them.

Organized jointly by educators and several area non-profits, it was MHS’ first career fair, but organizer Kelli Collomb said it went well. “I was very pleased at the energy in the room and the way the students presented themselves,” said Collomb, a vocational rehabilitation counselor at MHS. “The employers had a lot of hands-on activities; it was nice chance for the two groups to really interact in a very friendly environment.”

Director of Guidance Manjula Karamcheti said the event reflects a growing emphasis toward preparing students for life after graduation. “We’ve implemented some really good career exploration curriculum within our business department and also through some of our guidance department,” she said. “[The fair] is so students can get exposed to the experts who actually do the work. They’re listening to people who are actually doing the hiring, to hear what kind of skills they’ll need and who’d they’d want to hire.” Karamcheti credited the business department with helping students develop questions beforehand for their guests, adding a “career choices” curriculum is part of a freshman-level elective all students are strongly encouraged to take. The school also has a “pathways” program, which encourages career exploration and also teaches students social skills to succeed in the marketplace. “There’s a transition initiative going on within the school to ensure students are prepared after they graduate from high school,” said Collomb, who is a career coach and intern advisor for Pathways.

Karamcheti traced the career fair idea back to a recent youth development grant for linking careers and academics. She said those funds were used to bring together the schools, the regional employment board and various community organizations, saying the job fair grew out of that. “When we started meeting and having conversations, we wanted to come up with one program, event, or initiative we could all work on together,” she said. “A dream of mine since I’ve been here is to have a career fair.” A key player in those discussions was the Metro North Regional Employment Board, a regional non-profit that oversees federal money for youth programs and career centers in the metro-Boston area. Board associate Priscilla Golding said they’ve long provided services in Malden — noting sponsorship of in-school program through the Malden YWCA and a local GED program — but added the recent round of discussions centered on how they could do more to teach youth about the connection between education and vocation. Speaking after the event, Golding termed education the most important factor for young people seeking jobs, saying they need a diploma or GED, followed by certificate training or higher education. She hoped the career fair would get students thinking proactively about the future and preparing for it. “We’re hoping some of these kids get inspired to pick a career they might never have thought about,” she said. Event organizers said they’re hoping the career fair will become an annual event in Malden. MHS principal Dana Brown sounded onboard with that notion. “The foundation is there for an annual event,” he said. “I heard nothing but positives from kids, teachers and our partners, so I think the foundation is there.”

To view this article in the Malden Observer: http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/news/x1783274616/Malden-career-fair-highlights-student-options#ixzz1tNiuxCMa

Metro Boston workforce investment areas receive $5M to build life sciences workforce (April, 2012)

 The Metro North REB is pleased to announce that the Boston Skilled Careers in Life Sciences (SCILS) Initiative has recently been awarded $5M by the USDOL to support its mission to grow and maintain a life sciences workforce in the state.  Led by the City of Boston Jobs and Community Services, the initiative will provide residents in more than 80 cities and towns in and around Boston with customized occupational training for careers as Biological Technicians, Medical Lab Technicians and Medical Lab Technologists, as well as student internships, career counseling and outreach services. In addition to Metro North and the City of Boston's Jobs and Community Services, SCILS is being implemented in collaboration with the Metro South/West and South Shore workforce regions. Current training partners include Boston University, Quincy College, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.  

The Executive Committee of the Initiative is currently seeking to fill the position of Director of the Metro Boston Life Science and Healthcare Career Center Resource (HLS-CCR), who will be responsible for creating an industry resource within the region’s workforce investment system. The HLS-CCR is an integral part of the Metro Boston Skilled Careers In Life Sciences Initiative, a four year $5 million initiative to improve career opportunities for residents of the Greater Boston area and provide a more highly trained life science workforce for the area’s healthcare and biotechnology sectors. The HLS-CCR will work with all of the region’s 10 one-stop career centers, and build a productive network of career center staff, customers, and employer partners. The Director will create this new regional resource, supervise its staff, and lead its efforts to support the SCILS Initiative and make a significant impact on the region’s workforce..  Please click here for the full job posting and information on how to apply.

Annual CWC Workforce Development Conference - May 14, 2012

Commonwealth Workforce Coalition (CWC) will host its 9th annual workforce development conference - Partnering for Opportunity on Monday, May 14th. Joanne F. Goldstein, Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will be a guest speaker at the conference. Workshops include: Using the Empower Your Future Curriculum in Youth Employment Programs; Youth Manufacturing Pilot: Pathway System-Building and Employer Engagement; and Measuring Business Impact in Workforce Development. Commonwealth Corporation is not only a sponsor of the conference, but will be presenting multiple workshops throughout the day. Be sure to visit the CWC website and register by April 20th.

Youth Council and Malden Youth Advocates Join Forces (December 6, 2011)

 Representatives from the Metro North Youth Council, Malden High School and local WIA-funded community agencies have established a new initiative to support youth workforce-related programming through promoting employer engagement in the city of Malden. To help focus their initial efforts, the team members attended the recent U.S. Department of Labor Forum entitled “Working Collaboratively to Provide Work and Learn Opportunities for Young Adults: A Conference for Teams that Cross Delivery Systems.”  Also involved in the effort is the statewide Connecting Activities Program and the MassGrad Initiative --both of which are funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-- as well as the Metro North Career Centers, Career Source and The Career Place. Updates on the progress of the initiative will be posted on this Web site.

Lahey Clinic among those Honored for Successful English Language Program

Lt. Governor Timothy Murray presents certificate to (from left to right): Lahey EWL Program Director Pat McAuliffe, students Claudia Rodriguez, Marc Rhuand, and Zoe Moore, and Instructor Kathy McAlpine.

Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray presented an award today to Lahey Clinic for its demonstrated commitment to providing its non-English speaking employees an opportunity to learn English at work. Lahey was one of 18 businesses across the state to receive the award at a ceremony organized by the English Works Campaign. The event underscored the value of work-based Engish language programs, particularly in light of the many challenges that immigrants often face in getting access to these programs outside of of the workplace.

Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Joanne Goldstein also attended the event.  Secretary Goldstein praised the award recipients, and voiced her strong support for work-based English language programs: "It's good for business, it's good for workers, it's good for the Commonwealth, and it's good for us as a community," said Goldstein.

Since its inception in 1995, the highly successful English as a Working Language Program at Lahey Clinic has served over 500 immigrant employees.  Graduates of the program have made career advancements, earned GED diplomas as well as college degrees, become mentors, supervisors, translators, and many have achieved US citizenship. Lahey Clinic has funded this initiative annually for over 15 years, and today the program serves as a model for ESL workplace education throughout the country.

Massachusetts Community Colleges Awarded $20 Million U.S. Department of Labor Grant

A consortia proposal submitted by all 15 Massachusetts Community Colleges has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor to receive the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant. This capacity-building proposal entitled “Massachusetts Community College and Workforce Development Transformation Agenda” will assist trade impacted and other eligible citizens of the Commonwealth to attain degrees, certificates, and industry recognized credentials that will help prepare them for high wage, high skill employment in an accelerated manner.

The $20 million dollar grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education will create collaborative statewide change in the delivery system of high quality education and training programs for workers eligible under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) and beyond. “It is a new delivery model for a new era and will go a long way to make a significant difference in the lives of the individuals who need the training and education to get ahead in these challenging economic times”, said William Hart, Executive Director, Massachusetts Community Colleges Executive Office.     

This is the first time that an initiative of this magnitude has been undertaken by all 15 community colleges.  Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) was the lead institution that submitted the consortia proposal for the community college segment in partnership with the Commonwealth’s workforce system and industry partners.  The grant was designed to focus on key industry sectors that reflect the strategic economic development plan of the Commonwealth: Life Sciences and Biotechnology; Information Technology; Health Care; Clean Energy; Advanced Manufacturing; and Financial Services and Entrepreneurship.  Funding from this grant will provide a seamless pipeline of supports and activities from the moment the customer is notified of their layoff, to their completion of education/training, to their achievement of a new job or career; benefiting both the individual and the Commonwealth.

Department of Industrial Accidents Workplace Safety Training & Education Grant Program - Fiscal Year 2012 - 2nd Round

The Office of Safety of the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) released the Workplace Safety Training & Education Grant Program Application for Fiscal Year 2012 - 2nd Round on September 1, 2011. The objective of this program is to promote safe and healthy conditions in the workplace by awarding state funds to eligible employers/employees within the Commonwealth who are covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law (M.G.L. Chapter 152), and who submit responses designed to provide and improve safety education and training in Occupational Safety and Health.  Complete instructions are detailed in the FY12 - 2nd Round Safety Training Grant Application, available here: www.mass.gov/dia/safety . The completed grant application must be submitted electronically and sent to the Office of Safety at the following address: electronic.safetygrant@dia.state.ma.us. Questions concerning the grant application process can be directed to the Office of Safety automatic response system by emailing safety@dia.state.ma.us

Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair seeks judges, mentors, advocates, students

The Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair, Inc. (MSSEF) is a non-profit organization committed to increasing awareness of, exposure to, and participation in inquiry-based learning through the development of science and engineering projects by middle school and high school students.  Through its Curious Minds Initiative, MSSEF offers graduate courses for teachers leading to the STEM Certificate in Inquiry at Framingham State University.

Ways to get involved:

1. Be a science fair judge. Opportunities exist at the middle and high school levels and for statewide,  regional, and school district fairs.

2. Mentor science fair students and science teachers.

3. Help develop a science fair program in a school.

4. Become a STEM education advocate. Promote the need for students to choose STEM education and careers.

5. Enter your students in a fair! Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fairs are open to students in grades 6-12 from all public, private and parochial schools throughout the state.

For additional information please visit: www.massscifair.com, or email info@scifair.com.

Summer employment program puts local youth to work (August 3, 2011)

The Metro North cities of Cambridge, Chelsea and Malden are providing meaningful, subsidized employment to over 230 local youth this summer. Funding for the program is being provided by the state through the Commonwealth Corporation, and is being administered by the REB as part of the successful statewide YouthWorks program. To help ensure that the benefits of their experiences extend far beyond their paychecks, the youth are also receiving services to help them develop essential job skills and explore educational and career paths. A follow-up story on the program will be published in the Fall 2011 issue of REB Connections.

REB STEM Forum fuels discussion on local STEM programming (July 7, 2011)

In keeping with its goal of generating and growing STEM-related partnerships between local businesses and schools in the region, the Metro North REB hosted a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Forum at the Burlington Marriott Hotel this past June. The forum attracted directors of guidance and STEM-related departments from nearly every high school in the Metro North region, as well as representatives from ten local companies in fields ranging from green chemistry to aeronautical engineering.  The event provided a unique opportunity for school staff and administrators to meet with local industry representatives to explore synergies for the purpose of establishing new or expanding current STEM programs for local high school students.

The Forum followed on the heels of the launch of the Web-based Metro North STEM Resource – a new online inventory (www.mnreb.org/STEM) of some of the most effective and well-established STEM-related programs in the region.  The resource also features a wide range of information to support those partnerships, including a STEM Activity Guide and program-focused STEM resources.  More information about both the Forum and the STEM Resource will be posted on this site in the near future - so please stay tuned!

REB elects new chair, vice chair (June 29, 2011)

The REB is pleased to announce that Joanna Dowling of The Custom Group, Inc. and Antonio de la Serna of Draper Laboratory have been elected to the positions of Board Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Ms. Dowling currently serves as Director of Operations of The Custom Group -- a leading, Massachusetts-based precision manufacturing company, and is also President of The Center for Manufacturing Technology, a member of The Custom Group. She is actively involved with the State of Massachusetts to promote the importance of ensuring the growth and sustainability of manufacturing in the state.  As a Board member since 2009, Ms. Dowling has brought to the REB a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, human resources and marketing. “As Chair I am looking forward to working with REB Executive Director Nancy Brown and Vice Chair Antonio de la Serna.  I believe the REB can play a pivotal role in helping employers build a stronger workforce and grow new and existing businesses in Massachusetts,” said Dowling.

The REB’s new Vice-Chair, Antonio de la Serna, is a digital design engineer at Draper Laboratory, an independent, not-for-profit research and engineering organization dedicated to solving problems in the national interest.  He is also founder and president of the Greater Boston chapter of the Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists, which performs K-12 educational outreach in both the sciences and engineering. “We’re thrilled that Ms. Dowling and Mr. de la Serna have accepted leadership roles on the Metro North Regional Employment Board.  Their combined skills and expertise will help us to effectively help residents gain the skills to maximize their economic self-sufficiency,” remarked REB Executive Director Nancy Brown.

State gives $6 million toward teen jobs, far below need (May 29, 2011)

A recent article on funding for summer youth employment programs published in The Boston Globe quotes Metro North REB Executive Director Nancy Brown. (Click here to view).

Metro North Career Pathways in Healthcare (April 22, 2011)

The REB is pleased to make available a new career exploration tool which outlines career pathways in healthcare in the Metro North region.  Developed in close collaboration with the Metro North Healthcare Partnership, this resource provides both an overview of healthcare career ladders as they relate to the region, as well as information on trends, wages and resources. The tool will be distributed to schools and career centers throughout the Metro North region. (Click on the image to the left to view/download).

Mass. job training programs to see loss of stimulus, budget cuts (April 21, 2011)
By David Riley, GateHouse News Service
Published on PatriotLedger.com, Apr 21, 2011
"Even as unemployment remains stubbornly high, Massachusetts job training and placement programs face
both federal budget cuts and the loss of stimulus funding that bolstered them through the recession.
State workforce development programs have received roughly $75 million through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)...." [Full article]

Custom Group Earns Prestigious PM100 Award from Managing Automation (February 18, 2011)

The Custom Group Center for Manufacturing Technology, a full-service hands-on training facility based in Woburn, MA has been selected as a winner of the 2011 Progressive Manufacturing 100 Award in the Training & Education category. The Progressive Manufacturing 100 award is a prestigious program which honors companies who have transformed themselves through the use of information technology. Each year 100 manufacturing companies from around the world are recognized by Managing Automation Media for their groundbreaking projects that deliver a demonstrable competitive advantage. Visit the Center's Web site for more information: here: http://www.customtrainingcenter.com.

Richard Freeland meets with Board to discuss Vision Project (January 6, 2011)
Massachusetts Commissioner of the Board of Higher Education Richard M. Freeland recently met with the Metro North REB to discuss the Vision Project, a bold new statewide initiative that is designed to enhance the quality and accessibility of the state’s higher education system. In developing the Vision Project, Freeland and his team first sought to identify the most important objectives that the state needs higher education to fulfill. The answer they formulated, Freeland said, is “to produce the best educated workforce and citizenry in the country,” and “to position the state as a national leader in research that drives economic development.” Freeland asserted that in today’s economy, a strong, unified system of public higher education is critical to the economic well-being of the state. He pointed out that that while soon the vast majority of all jobs will require a college degree, graduates of Massachusetts colleges are leaving the state at an increasing rate. The future workforce of Massachusetts, he argued, will come from the state’s system of higher education. “We need to change the equation by getting the state to see more clearly the public policy importance of this system...and, by getting this highly decentralized system to see that it needs to find a way to behave as a system if it's going to communicate its importance to the state,” Freeland said. The ambitious goals of the project include: increasing college attendance and graduation rates; implementing accurate assessment tools to ensure that high school students are ready for advanced work; aligning degree programs with the workforce needs of the state; and eliminating racial, ethnic and economic disparities with respect to all of these outcomes. Freeland said that a report on the initiative will likely be published in 2012.

Career Paths in STEM forum draws crowd (January 6, 2011)
There was standing room only at the December STEM forum, held at Career Source in Cambridge. Hosted by the Metro North Career Centers, the forum featured speakers who are working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and who represent companies that include: Vertex, Just-A-Start, Biogen Idec, Vecna, and Everett Credit Union. Each presenter spoke to the audience of local youth about their organizations, some of the highlights of working in their fields, and their sometimes unpredictable career paths. Speaker Janis Caines, Vice President of Operations and Administration at Everett Credit Union, said that despite being an “average student” in high school, she worked her way up from part-time receptionist to vice president of her company. Caines stressed that students shouldn’t feel that they need to know everything before they enter the workforce. “What matters is that you show up, you are on time, you maintain a positive attitude, and you work hard….as for confidence, that will come.” The forum is one element of the Metro North REB’s comprehensive strategy to increase youth interest in the STEM fields, and to connect local schools with industry in the region. Other components of the strategy include the Metro North STEM Partnership (see article below), and the development of a web-based collection of local STEM-related initiatives and resources, slated to be launched in the spring of 2011.

New STEM Partnership to Build Local Workforce Capacity, Empower Youth (November 5, 2010)

Following on the heels of the successful forum, “Best Practices in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)” held this past summer, the REB is pleased to announce the launch of the Metro North STEM Partnership.  The Partnership, which is comprised of 30 leaders in industry and education from throughout the Metro North region, will serve as a catalyst to revitalize local interest and leadership in the STEM fields. At its first meeting in October, representatives from industry and community colleges explored local workforce needs, challenges and resources. The next meeting, to be held in early 2011, will include leadership from many local school districts, and will focus on establishing partnerships that will support effective, sustainable STEM programming throughout the region. The Metro North STEM Partnership is one component of the REB’s comprehensive Strategic Plan, which identifies healthcare and the professional/technical/scientific services sectors as priority areas for 2009 - 2012. Updates on the Partnership’s activities will be posted on this Web site as they become available.

Metro North REB Awarded High Performing WIB Status (September 22, 2010)

The Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Joanne Goldstein, recently awarded the status of High Performing Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to the Metro North REB on behalf of the state. This designation is given to WIBs that meet and sustain rigorous performance standards, and that have a demonstrated commitment to achieving the strategic workforce goals outlined by the Patrick Administration. These high-level goals include building workforce capacity, closing the skills gap, and developing education, training, and employment infrastructure to increase opportunities for youth. As part of the award, the REB will receive a $100,000 grant which it will use to support objectives in its priority industries of healthcare and the professional/technical/services sector.

ESOL Program for Former Ames Workers Now Underway (September 7, 2010)

Classes have begun for over twenty former employees of the Ames Safety Envelope Company in Somerville, who are participating in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE). This training is one component of a suite of education, training, and job counseling services that is currently being offered to 150 former Ames workers, thanks to a grant that was recently awarded to the REB by the Rapid Response Team of the Department of Workforce Development. In addition to ESOL training, the REB has allocated a large portion of the award for a wide range of direct services to be provided by the Metro North Career Centers. These services include outreach and recruitment, case management, job search workshops, and job placement services. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to help the former Ames workers, many of whom were long-term employees of the company, to successfully compete into today’s rapidly evolving job market.

REB Forum Sparks Partnerships to Address STEM Challenges (August 2, 2010)

At a recent forum at the Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA, leaders in business and education from across the Metro North gathered together with a single shared purpose: to learn how they can work together to address the growing crisis in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The diverse mix of professionals included engineers, scientists, CEOs, school superintendents, career development professionals and sustainability experts. Sponsored by the Metro North Regional Employment Board (Cambridge, MA), the forum built upon a shared understanding of the challenges by exploring practical strategies to inspire students to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

In concluding the forum, REB Executive Director Nancy Brown announced that the REB is in the process of establishing a regional STEM planning team, as well as a clearinghouse for STEM resources. Additionally, Brown said that the REB will continue to serve as a catalyst to help foster new partnerships and initiatives to revitalize interest and leadership in STEM within the Metro North region and beyond. [Please see the latest issue of our newsletter, REB Connections, to read the full article].

REB Receives Grant to Assist Former Workers of Somerville-based Company (June 14, 2010)

The Metro North REB has received a grant from the Rapid Response team of the Department of Workforce Development to provide critical education, training and job counseling services to former employees of the Ames Safety Envelope Company. The award, which is funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), will serve to help these workers to secure other means of employment by providing them with a wide array of job counseling and occupational skills training, as well as opportunities to develop English language skills. Over the course of the 14-month grant period (ending June 30, 2011), the Metro North Career Centers will also provide a wide range of direct services which include: outreach and recruitment, case management, job search workshops, computer skills development and job placement services.

REB Receives $300K for Green Jobs (April 30, 2010)

We are pleased to announce that the Metro North REB will receive $300K as part of the Massachusetts State Energy Sector Partnership (MB-SESP) Award. Supported by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the U.S. Department of Labor, the award is one component of a major federal initiative established to promote economic growth through training workers in skills required for emerging industries. [Read full article]

REB Receives $200K Award to Bridge Healthcare Skills Gap (April 2, 2010)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that in the decade between 2008 and 2018, job growth for clinical laboratory workers will exceed 14%, a rate that is “faster than average for all occupations.” The BLS also predicts that the number of job openings in the field will continue to exceed the number of those entering the field. [Read full article]