Workforce Development Initiatives

 

WOMEN BUILD PROGRAM– TRAINING WOMEN IN NON--TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT (8 weeks)

 

The “Women Build Program” is a skilled-trades work opportunity initiative, specifically designed for women and ex-offenders in Essex and Camden counties. The Hispanic Family Center, in Camden, and the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, in Newark, will work together to assist each other in the accomplishment of the goals of the program. The 18-month pilot program will provide a unique opportunity for a collaborative effort between a number of state agencies, including NJ State Parole Board, NJ Department of Corrections, NJ Office of the Attorney General, and NJ Labor and Workforce Development. 

 

NJISJ will recruit and train a minimum of 32 women (of which 60% will be female ex-offenders) in the greater-Newark/Essex County area. The program will run for 8 weeks.  A minimum of 30 women will graduate from the training program, and 25 of those will be placed in long term employment in the construction or environmental remediation industry.

 

To be eligible participants must:

 

• Be a female at least 20 years of age at the time of enrollment;
• Reside in Camden or Essex County (or be an ex-offender relocating to that county);
• Have a high school diploma or GED;
• Have a valid driver’s license;
• Remain drug free and submit to random drug testing through the program;
• Score a minimum of 8th grade proficiency on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE); and

• Demonstrate a genuine interest in pursuing a career in construction.

 

TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION CLICK HERE.

TO DISTRIBUTE OUR FLYER CLICK HERE.

 

To find out more, please call us at 973-624-9400 or email us at info@njisj.org.

 

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METRO NEWARK ENVIRONMENTAL JOB DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM (14 weeks)

 

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is launching an Environmental Job Development Program funded by the EPA.  The Institute will train 87 students in various coursework including: HAZWOPER, lead abatement, asbestos removal, OSHA health and safety, and brownfields issues.  Of these 87 participants, the Institute will place at least 53 graduates in environmental technician jobs, and track them for one year.  The Institute will recruit unemployed and underemployed residents from Newark. The training program will run for 14 weeks.

 

To be eligible participants must:

 

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment;
• Reside in the Newark Metro Area;
• Have a high school diploma or GED;
• Have a valid driver’s license and/or NJMVC ID card;
• Remain drug free and submit to random drug testing through the program;
• Be registered with the One-Stop Center
• Have access to a SS card, birth certificate, etc.

 

To find out more, please call us at 973-624-9400 or email us at info@njisj.org.

 

TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION PLEASE CLICK HERE.

 

A brownfield is a piece of real estate that is potentially contaminated with a harmful pollutant or hazardous material.  These substances severely complicate the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of those properties.  Newark has an estimated 700 acres of brownfields.  President Bush, in 2002, signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act.  This law allows the EPA to provide grants in four areas, one of which is job training.  Brownfields job training grants equips members of a community affected by brownfields the skills necessary to gain employment in assessment and revitalization activities associated with brownfields.

 

For more information please visit the following sites:

 

www.brownfields-toolbox.org/

www.ateec.org/

 

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TRUCK DRIVING AT THE PORT OF NEWARK AND ELIZABETH

We continued work initiated in 2006 to link Newark residents to employment opportunities at the Port of Newark based on research findings commissioned by the Newark Alliance.

This research found a specific need for entry-level workers for Port-based trucking companies-good, living wage jobs with entry requirements within reach of many Newarkers.

Over the year, we discovered an issue that prevented local residents from taking this opportunity-insurance for new drivers. Insurance company policies require that truck drivers at smaller trucking companies based at Port Newark have 2 years of driving experience in order to provide affordable coverage to the trucking company. This insurance provision meant that it was nearly impossible for potential drivers to get this experience. A classic Catch 22- how can a new driver gain experience if the companies that want to employ them cannot secure insurance?

The Institute worked together with the Commissioners of the NJ Departments of Banking and Insurance and of Labor and Workforce Development; the Newark One Stop Career Center; the Newark Alliance; and the Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers to establish a program including training, supervision and mentorship to serve as an alternative to the two-year experience requirement. Several insurance companies have indicated a willingness to accept this program. In 2008, we will pilot the program. If successful, this will open up an important and growing industry sector with good jobs for Newarkers.

 

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