Human Services News

Sector Skills Academy

There's still time to submit applications for the Sector Skills Academy, an initiative sponsored by the Aspen Institutes's Workforce Strategies Initiative and Public/Private Ventures.

The Academy is a year-long program involving three 3-day workshops, as well as mentoring, technical assistance, and peer support, designed to support and help grow sectoral workforce development strategies.

As an integral part of the Academy, each participant will have the opportunity to reflect on and refine his/her vision, strategy and implementation plan for a specific sectoral initiative, compatible with his/her own organization's vision and goals.

The application deadline is March 3, 2008. More information about the Academy is available at: www.sectorskillsacademy.org. Questions about the application process or the Academy can be sent to: wsi@aspeninstitute.org.

About Skills Sector Academy

Interest in sector-oriented workforce training is growing dramatically, largely because such approaches hold the potential to improve employment opportunities for low-wage workers, while also supporting business competitiveness.

That potential has prompted a variety of institutions---including community-based organizations, community colleges, labor-management partnerships and business associations---to launch new initiatives.

Several states, such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois, have developed workforce development systems that are organized around a sectoral approach.

To build on the momentum of sector work and to strengthen, sustain and grow the field, the first Sector Skills Academy was initiated in June 2005 by three well-known organizations in the sectoral workforce development field: The Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative, the National Network of Sector Partners, and Public/Private Ventures.

The Academy consists of three workshops over roughly a 12-month period that allow participants to acquire new skills, engage in peer exchange and benefit from relationships with mentors.

Academy participants are known as "Marano Fellows," in honor of the late Cindy Marano, a respected leader in the field of sectoral workforce development who at one time headed NNSP.