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Greetings Partners and Supporters,
As we move into spring and say goodbye to winter, I am delighted to share some exciting developments within our organization. At MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, we continue our dedication to delivering comprehensive workforce development programs to individuals and businesses throughout our region.
We strongly believe that by investing in workforce development, we can help individuals and businesses thrive and flourish. We value your feedback and ideas, and we look forward to working together to build a stronger, more dynamic, and more prosperous Metro North region.
Sincerely,
Chris Albrizio-Lee, President and CEO
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Meet Our Newest Staff Members!
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Kate Armstrong joined the Board in September 2022 as STEM Programs Manager with the Youth Team. Kate is a former elementary school teacher specializing in science and math education and spent a year developing and implementing a STEM fair for third and fourth graders at her school.
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Jenny Synn joined the Board in September 2022 as Director of Workforce Systems on the Workforce Systems Team, bringing with her 20+ years of experience working with youth in NYC. Starting as a high school math teacher, she later transitioned to various youth employment programs, playing a significant role in the development of the Advance & Earn program model for Opportunity Youth.
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Natalia Salagornik joined the Board in September 2022 as Workforce System Manager with the Workforce Systems Team, bringing with her a diverse background in nonprofit organizations. Before joining MassHire, Natalia focused on community partnerships, grant management, and data analysis in her various nonprofit roles.
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Liana Gracia joined the Board in March 2023 as Data Project Coordinator with the Strategy Team. Before joining MassHire Metro North, Liana worked as an Admissions Coordinator for a non-profit organization aimed at equipping students with the necessary skills and resources to excel as entrepreneurs.
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Meet our Newest Board Member!
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Rachael Running, who had previously worked as the Communications Coordinator at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO for 5 years, joined the Greater Boston Labor Council as the only staff member in early 2020. As the coordinator at GBLC, Rachael's main responsibility is to lead the council's efforts in advocating for workers' rights in the region. With 20 years of experience in policy, research, and communications in community and labor organizations, including 9 years at United for a New Economy in Denver, Rachael is well-equipped for the job. She holds a Master's degree in Labor Studies from UMass Amherst and a Bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College.
Rachael's extensive knowledge of labor issues and her perspective on empowering workers make us proud to have her serve as a member of the Metro North Workforce board.
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It’s a Chemical Reaction with Novartis CELL and Revere Students!
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Revere High School and CityLab High School students participated in a career day and industry tour at Novartis CELL (Community Exploration & Learning Lab) in Cambridge on Wednesday, October 19th. During the event, Novartis Biotech Scientists gave a presentation on working in biotechnology, the Novartis company, and what it's like working in a laboratory.
Students had a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in biotechnology by using micropipettes to measure and transfer specific amounts of chemicals to dilute two different substances. They witnessed a chemical reaction when the substances hit a certain percentage and changed colors. Additionally, students applied their math skills to calculate the math behind this reaction, putting the M in STEM to work.
The day wrapped up with a Q&A session where students and scientists got to engage with each other. Scientists fielded questions about the education requirements for a biotechnology career, the stress level of their jobs, and the diverse career options in biotechnology.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience for the students to gain valuable insights into the world of biotechnology and STEM education. The Novartis Lab was critical in hosting the event and providing an engaging platform for students to learn and explore.
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Students extract their DNA with Gloucester Biotechnology Academy!
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Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, a division of Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, visited Revere High School science classes and clubs on Friday, October 21st, to introduce students to various career pathways in Biotechnology. After the presentation, 70 students got the opportunity to extract their DNA in a hands-on activity. They swished Gatorade in their mouths and in a cup, added dish soap and isopropyl alcohol to their saliva to see the DNA from their cells.
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During the event, scientists spoke with students about the Biotechnology Certificate Program, which prepares high school graduates for entry-level laboratory tech positions through mentorship and a guaranteed paid internship. The year-long program offers subsidized spots for interested enrollees.
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Defining a Robot with MassRobotics!
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Fifteen students from Revere High School visited MassRobotics in Boston on Friday, November 4th, for an educational industry tour. The tour sparked an intriguing conversation about the definition of a robot, including whether AI or a Rumba vacuum qualifies. Students participated in breakout groups to explore these questions and engage with the robots on display at MassRobotics.
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Students witnessed the importance of failure in the robotics industry through hands-on experience with startup robots, including two robotic arms that could pick things up and a human-like robot that interacted with them. The tour inspired several students to consider joining the Revere High School robotics team.
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PACMAN Graduate Achieves Dream of Becoming Electrician Through Free Training Program!
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We're thrilled to introduce Kevin Lao, a recent graduate of Cohort 2 in PACMAN (Pre-Apprentice Construction and Maintenance Training Program). Kevin has always dreamed of becoming an electrician, and he pursued this goal by enrolling in the program after working in the automotive industry. With perfect attendance and a strong commitment to learning, Kevin excelled in the job readiness portion of the program, which taught him valuable networking skills. After completing the training, Kevin applied to and was accepted into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103, where he is now thriving as an electrician's apprentice.
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Kevin credits the PACMAN training program with providing him with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue his dream of becoming a master electrician. Kevin's success is just one example of the 23 students who graduated from the program and are now working in industry-related jobs with excellent benefits, continuing education opportunities, and clear career ladders. We're proud of Kevin and all our graduates and look forward to seeing their continued success in their chosen careers.
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PACMAN Background
The next cohort of the PACMAN Training Program will start in September 2023. This program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in construction trades and facilities maintenance and is made possible by the Kenneth J. Donnelly Fund through the Commonwealth Corporation's Workforce Training Competitive Trust Fund. Best of all, it's free to eligible applicants!
Over the course of 14 weeks, students will complete the National Center for Construction and Education Research (NCCER) core curriculum and a four-week hands-on construction and facilities maintenance project, earning an NCCER certification and an OSHA 10 certificate. They'll also participate in 48 hours of job readiness training and work with an employment specialist until they secure an industry-related position or apprenticeship.
The program aims to serve 60 individuals over three cohorts, with a hybrid instruction model that includes online classes via Zoom and in-person classes at Medford Vocational Technical High School. We encourage women and minorities to apply, applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent, and residents of the Metro North Area or the Greater Boston Area. A clean criminal background is required, and applicants must pass an assessment of math and English comprehension.
If students need extra support, tutoring is available during the cohort. We're proud to partner with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts, the International Institute of New England, Winn Companies, and Medford Vocational Technical High School to offer this training.
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Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Facilities Management or Construction Trades Recruiting Now!
Class starts September 2023!
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Calling all employers! Our Youth Team is on the lookout for employers to attend upcoming spring job fairs in Metro North High Schools. If you have openings for full-time, part-time, seasonal, or internship positions, don't miss this opportunity to connect with potential candidates. Join us at job fairs and explore your hiring options!
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LMI Snapshots
(Click on the pictures below to enlarge)
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In 2022, there were 247,576 unique job postings in Metro North
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Over 52% of the job postings required a bachelor’s degree or higher
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Top occupations in demand: registered nurses, software developers, health service managers, and retail occupations
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Top industries in demand:
1. Healthcare and social assistance,
2. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
3. Educational services
4. Manufacturing
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The top employers are educational institutions, biotechnology companies, and hospitals
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Labor Market Data Request Form
MassHire Metro North Workforce Board is proud to support the work of the workforce development, education, and economic development organizations in our communities. We are happy to provide labor market information to inform programmatic decisions or endorse grant applications. Partners who would like to request labor market information, reports, or access to data must complete the following Labor Market Data Request Form.
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The Massachusetts Workforce Association presented at MNWB’s February board meeting on recommendations for the new Healey-Driscoll Administration.
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Former Defense Department Contractor Finds Second Act Career in Welding and Becomes Adjunct Professor at MTI
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P. Damon, a former Defense Department Network Engineer contractor with 25 years of experience, found himself in a difficult position when his last contract ended in February 2020. Despite his efforts to secure a commercial position, he did not receive any offers. However, with his experience in welding, he decided to pursue a "second act career" and enrolled in the Minuteman Tech Institute (MTI) welding program beginning in January 2022. During the program, P. Damon discovered a particular interest in metal fabrication. After completing the class in December 2022, he was offered a position as an adjunct professor at MTI, which he accepted in mid-January. This opportunity allows him to share his expertise with future welding students and continue to pursue his passion in the field.
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Job Seeker Expresses Gratitude for Positive and Informative Webinars by Career Center
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After a recent 'Myths of Job Search' webinar on January 25th, attendee D. Scott, reached out to share some positive feedback. In her email, she expressed how grateful she was to attend this and other webinars provided by the MassHire Career Centers. She noted that she always learns something new, such as the idea of a Master resume, which seemed simple but made perfect sense. D. Scott also praised the webinar host's sincere and upbeat delivery, which helps to keep her spirits lifted on her job search journey. Overall, D. Scott wanted to express her appreciation for the valuable insights and positivity provided through these webinars.
There are several webinars scheduled for April and beyond, covering a variety of topics such as soft skills, interviewing in Spanish, writing thank-you notes and references, networking, resume basics, strategies for accessing the hidden job market, interviewing fundamentals, remote work suitability, transitioning to a new career, and many others.
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