Detroit Workforce System Leadership Development Academy Inaugural Class Announced

DETROIT, January 26, 2017 /3BL Media/ – JPMorgan Chase & Co., in partnership with Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) and The Aspen Institute, today announced the selection of twenty-two participants for the first ever Detroit Workforce System Leadership Development Academy (Academy).

The Academy will leverage and build on the expertise of leaders across the workforce ecosystem through an intensive twelve month learning program, led by local Detroit leaders and guest faculty from across the nation, providing the group with an opportunity to collaborate on developing practical solutions to solve some of the city’s most challenging workforce issues.

As part of JPMorgan Chase’s $100 million commitment to the city’s economic recovery, the company awarded $200,000 to CSW to allow the Academy to leverage and build on the expertise of leaders across the workforce community to help these workforce leaders to better engage employers, understand industry workforce needs, develop successful career pathway strategies and strengthen connections between training providers, job seekers and employers.

“As a result of this program, this exciting group of local leaders will be able to come up with innovative and practical solutions that connect Detroiters to open jobs in a way they’ve never done before. The Academy will help advance the city’s focus on creating high-quality jobs and reducing the skills mismatch between local employers and job hunters,” said Chauncy Lennon, Head of Workforce Initiatives, JPMorgan Chase.  

The program includes an opening retreat in late January, five full day working sessions from March to September, a second retreat in November, and a closing capstone presentation event in December. The Academy is anchored in a world-class sector skills development model, grounded in practical application of innovative practices, and backed by an executive-level Detroit-based council of leaders. It is one in a number of strategies aimed at preparing the City’s next cohort of workforce system leaders to help offer solutions to some of Detroit’s most intractable workforce issues.

“Effective workforce development strategies are developed within a particular local context and take account of a variety of factors including the specifics of their local labor market, the assets and needs of the people whose careers they seek to advance, and the resources and capacities of the local institutions with which they partner,” said Sheila Maguire, Senior Fellow with Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program.  “Skilled local leaders, who can work within their organization and in partnerships with other stakeholders, are essential for success.”

The academy participants will join leaders in a growing network of fellows from academies in Baltimore, Seattle, and Toronto, Canada. 

The following 22 individuals comprise Detroit’s 2017 cohort:

Kristen Barnes-Holiday, Director of Program Outcomes for Reading Works Detroit

Sister Janice Brown, Executive Director for Dominican Literacy Center

Jacqueline Burau, Senior Program Officer for Detroit Local Initiative Support Corporation

Devon Buskin, Director of Workforce Development for The Greening of Detroit

Emily Dieppa, Executive Director for CarePath Career Center

Brittany Foley, Program Manager for Michigan Community Services

Shawna Forbes, Vice Chancellor, School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development for Wayne County Community College District

Mary Freeman, Director, Workforce Development for Southwest Solutions

Naheed Huq, Manager of Talent and Economic Development for Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Marcus Jones, Director for the Detroit Training Center

Tammie Jones, VP, College and Career Pathways, and CEO for Linked Learning, UW-SEM

Ann Leen, Assistant Vice President of Youth Services for SER Metro

Ricardo Marble, Director of Youth Services for the city of Detroit

Teresa McFadden, Director of Operations-Detroit for Vehicles for Change

Chioke Mose-Telesford, Deputy Director of Workforce Development Office for the city of Detroit

Stephanie Nixon, Director of Program and Service Innovation for Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Hachem Ossarian, Operations Manager for ACCESS

Veronica Sanchez Peavy, Sr. Assistant Vice President (Adult Programs) and Regional Director for SER Metro

Sarah Sebaly, Senior Program Manager, Workforce Intelligence Network/Southeast Michigan Community Alliance

Robert Shimkoski, Director, Policy Planning & Resource Development for the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Edward Steinberger, Director- Detroit Career Center for Goodwill Industries

Rashida Thomas, Director, Workforce Development & Education for Focus:HOPE

“This cohort of 22 leaders represents a direct investment in the bedrock of the Detroit workforce system that will influence organizations key to the city’s growth and pay dividends for years to come,” said Jeannine La Prad, President and CEO, CSW.

Academy project leaders from CSW and Aspen Institute sought potential Academy Fellows in mid-to-senior level management positions with authority to implement organizational and program changes and who are high-performing, high-potential candidates for more senior roles within their own organizations or elsewhere in the system. Applications were solicited from candidates working in diverse organizations, including public workforce, economic development, health and human service agencies, nonprofit job training and work-readiness providers, community colleges or universities, community-based and faith-based organizations, business associations, unions, and other relevant agencies. Selections were made based on comprehensive application submissions from the candidates, with input and feedback from the Academy advisory council members.

Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) is a national non-profit organization that partners with philanthropy, government, business, and community leaders to connect workers with good jobs, increase the competitiveness of companies, and build sustainable communities.  For over 25 years, CSW has been an effective catalyst for change, identifying opportunities for innovation in work and learning and supporting transformative change in policy and practice. CSW has worked with dozens of workforce investment boards, state and local workforce agencies, community-based organizations, and community colleges to create lasting impact through their collaborative action. For nearly a decade, CSW has been a partner in Detroit’s workforce system.  From research and strategic planning and counsel to implementation support, CSW has been partnered with the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, Detroit Employment Solutions Corp. (DESC), local philanthropic investors, the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund, and community-based organizations in support of the Mayor’s vision to prepare and connect thousands more Detroiters to jobs and career pathways. More information about CSW is available at www.skilledwork.org.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) advances promising strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income Americans connect to and thrive in a changing economy. Over its 25 years of work, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, to start businesses, and to build assets and economic stability. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/eop. 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.5 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.