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Newsroom Archive

November 14TH, 2018

Training Fund hosts 2018 Healthcare & Human Services High School Career Fair, part of National Apprenticeship Week in Philadelphia

The Training Fund held its annual Health Career Fair National Apprenticeship Week event on November 14, 2018 as part of the US Department of Labor event. We had a plenary panel including federal, state and local Apprenticeship officials as well as 29 Healthcare Professionals from several different career paths to present to 164 Philadelphia High School students interested in Health Careers. Two panels presented on Apprenticeship and included actual Apprentices and their mentors. Pictured here are Brittany Fowler, a Direct Service Professional Apprentice at SPIN along with Angelica Velasquez who manages the DSP Apprenticeship at the Training Fund.


October 10TH, 2018

Philadelphia Inquirer retrospective on Mayor Kenney's First 1,000 Days highlight's Training Fund's ECE Apprenticeship

The Training Fund's pioneering ECE Apprenticeship Program was highlighted in the Philadelphia Inquirer's comprehensive review of Mayor James Kenney's first 1,000 days in office. Writing in the 'Jobs' section, the Inquirer's Juliana Feliciano Reyes summed up:
 
"The administration released a workforce development strategy for the city, focusing on training and connecting Philadelphians to blue-collar jobs in seven sectors: retail and hospitality, business and financial services, manufacturing and logistics, construction and infrastructure, tech services, health care, and early childhood education. It's an ambitious program that prioritizes city residents who have been left behind by the city's resurgence.Longtime workforce development leaders, such as Cheryl Feldman, of union 1199C's Training Fund, championed the strategy, saying it was the first comprehensive plan of its kind for the city.
 
"The plan coordinates workforce efforts across Philadelphia programs and funding streams. For example, Kenney's new pre-K program requires its teachers have associate's degrees, so the Training Fund created an apprenticeship to get teachers those credentials. The funding came in part by state and federal dollars secured by the quasi-public nonprofit Philadelphia Works, led by Kenney appointee Pat Clancy. The gains are slow, as most are with workforce development programs —  the 2017 inaugural class began with 36 apprentices and next year, it'll recruit 36 more — but the apprenticeship has been successful enough that it is now being re-created in Delaware County."

READ FULL ARTICLE...


September 26TH, 2018

Training Fund receives Pennsylvania Outstanding Apprenticeship Program Award 2018

The Training Fund was recognized by the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship & Training Office for its "exceptional non-traditional Apprenticeship programs and dedication to apprentices and community" at Pennsylvania's first-ever State Apprenticeship Summit in Harrisburg.

READ MORE...


September 12TH, 2018

Training Fund named Frontline Worker Champion

The National Fund for Workforce Solutions has honored the District 1199C Training Fund, naming us a 2018 Frontline Worker Champion. The National Fund's CareerSTAT Frontline Worker Champions program honors industry partners who support the growth and development of the frontline healthcare workforce.

READ MORE...


July 25TH, 2018

Apprenticeship Accelerator a Major Success

The Training Fund and Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Partnership joined the Healthcare Career Advancement Project (H-CAP) to sponsor an Apprenticeship Accelerator for the healthcare and human services sectors in Philadelphia on July 25th.

READ MORE...


April 30TH, 2018

Cheryl Feldman joins Philadelphia Works on WOGL's The Philadelphia Agenda with Brad Segall

Mark Genua, Apprenticeship Program Director, Philadelphia Works and Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman discuss new state grants for Apprenticeship and Pre-ApprenticeshipClick through to listen!

READ MORE...


April 28TH, 2018

Honoring Fallen Workers

April 28th is Workers' Memorial Day, honoring those workers who have died on the job, to acknowledge the grievous suffering experienced by families and communities, and to recommit ourselves to the fight for safe and healthful workplaces for all.

READ MORE...


February 15TH, 2018

City of Philadelphia announces new Citywide Workforce Strategy; Training Fund committed to implementation

Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman was among the guests and partners assembled at City Hall for the Kenney Administration's announcement of its new citywide workforce development strategy, Fueling Philadelphia's Talent Engine. The Training Fund was among a handful of high-performing workforce practitioners to participate in the planning process prior to the Strategy's announcement, and we are fully committed to implementing the Kenney Administration's key priorirites in our direct service work, and to supporting the Administration's implementation of the Strategy with a network of public, private and non-profit partners across Philadelphia.

READ MORE About the Announcement...

Download EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of City's Plan...


January 9TH, 2018

CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship highlighted in New York Times Magazine feature on Early Childhood Education teachers

The Training Fund-led CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship for Early Childhood Education Teachers was one of the innovative ECE workforce strategies highlighted in this detailed New York Times Magazine article.

READ MORE...


December 14TH, 2017

AJC presents 2017 Civic Leadership Award to Training Fund Founding Co-Chair Henry Nicholas

The Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey Region of the American Jewish Committee presented its 2017 Civic Achievement Award to Henry Nicholas, president of Philadelphia Hospital & Health Care Employees District 1199C. A lifelong activist and a labor and civil rights legend, President Nicholas stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights movement leaders in the 1960s.


November 15TH, 2017

Award-winning ESL, EL Civics Programs Highlighted by BillyPenn.com

The inspirational stories of English language learners in dedicated instructor Mike Van Hoy's intermediate EL Civics class were profiled in Zari Tarazona's moving piece for Billy Penn.

READ MORE...


November 14TH, 2017

Training Fund Apprenticeship Pioneer Grace Rutha profiled by Working for America Institute

The inspirational story of Grace Rutha, one of Pennsylvania's first Community Health Worker Apprentices at Philadelphia FIGHT, was highlighted in the Working for American Institute/Jobs With Justice Education Fund report, Advancing Equity Through Workforce Intermediary Partnerships: Best Practices in Manufacturing, Service and Transportation Industries.

READ MORE...


November 9TH, 2017

Training Fund highlighted in report, honored at launch of Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund was among a handful of national partners, all Apprenticeship or work-base learning (WBL) trailblazers, to be honored in Washington, DC as Jobs for the Future launched the first virtual center for Apprenticeship and WBL programming. We're very proud of all that our Apprenticeship team has achieved!

READ MORE...


November 6TH, 2017

Training Fund Executive Director contributes to early childhood ed workforce report highlighted by the Council for Professional Recognition


UPDATE: New, Summer 2018 Edition released! READ NOW...

Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman provided valuable input to Philadelphia-based Early Childhood Action Collaborative authors Amy Friedlander and Alison Lutton as they prepared a new report entitled Child Development Associate: A Successful Tool to Develop Philadelphia’s Existing Early Childhood Teachers.

VIEW FULL ARTICLE...


October 26TH, 2017

The Atlantic features Training Fund pioneer apprentices in its online coverage of the credentialing crisis in America's pre-schools

New America's Mary Alice McCarthy writes, "efforts to fill centers with better qualified early-childhood workers are threatening the jobs of those who can’t afford to get their college degree, and some states are turning to apprenticeships to solve both problems at once." Her article features the Training Fund-sponsored CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship and interviews with program participants.

VIEW FULL ARTICLE...


September 11TH, 2017

ECE Apprentices, barriers to participation studied in new report from Early Childhood Action Collective

The Early Childhood Action Collective, a PHMC program, has released a new report entitled "Math, Money, & Minutes: Barriers to Educational Advancement among Early Childhood Teachers." Authored by local early learning experts Kelly Feighan and Amy Friedlander, the report examines and analyzes reasons why otherwise-qualified and dedicated ECE professionals find themselves unable to continue their education, focusing on the District 1199C Training Fund's first-ever cohort of ECE Apprentices.

VIEW FULL REPORT...


September 6TH, 2017

Training Fund/CCP Apprenticeship featured in Washington Monthly's "12 Most Innovative Colleges for Adult Learners"

The Training Fund-led CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship for Early Childhood Education Teachers catapulted CCP onto this national list. Our partnership also includes the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC), the Southeast Regional Key (SERK) at PHMC, the City of Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Education, Philadelphia-based ECE employers, and other local stakeholders.

READ MORE...


September 1ST, 2017

Training Fund-supported Trailblazer Apprentices Amber & Clay featured on US DOL blog

Amber and Clay aren't just engaged to be married: they're also members of the Training Fund's first-ever cohort of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Registered Apprentices. This month, their story was highlighted by the US Department of Labor in a feature blog post, "Doubling Down on Success."

READ MORE...


July 31sT, 2017

Training Fund's College & Career Readiness and EL/Civics instructional teams honored by PA Department of Education

Receiving top honors for the Training Fund was the EL/Civics team, led by Arlyn Freed. For the fourth year running, the Fund achieved the highest level of EL/Civics Educational Functioning Level (EFL) gains in Pennsylvania, and also finished #1 for % of EL/Civics students entering employment. The Training Fund's College & Career Readiness team also excelled again this year, finishing third in the state in overall student outcome attainment, and #1  for % of EFL gains for Beginning ABE students.

READ MORE...


July 19TH, 2017

Training Fund's "New and Noteworthy" Apprenticeship Programs Highlighted in New Fed Report

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund's Community Health Worker (CHW), Pre-K Teacher, Direct Support Professional (DSP) and Medical Assistant (MA) Registered Apprenticeship programs were featured in the Apprenticeship Guide 2017, published by the Community Development Studies & Education division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

VIEW FULL REPORT...


July 13TH, 2017

Training Fund-supported Trailblazer Apprentice Brenda Bowens featured on US DOL blog

Brenda was one of the Training Fund's first-ever Registered Apprentices, completing a Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprenticeship at Philadelphia FIGHT with supported from the Fund's Industry Partnership (IP) team. This month, she was highlighted by the US Department of Labor in a feature blog post, "Letting Her Light Shine: Brenda's Apprenticeship Story."

READ MORE...


June 29TH, 2017

Training Fund's Groundbreaking ECE Apprenticeship 'Could Be a Game-Changer in Early Education'

The Training Fund's CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship for early childhood education workers in Philadelphia has been featured in a report from New America. Rethinking Credential Requirements in Early Education: Equity-based Strategies for Professionalizing a Vulnerable Workforce explores the debate around degree requirements for early educators and offers up apprenticeship as an alternative approach that is more equitable and affordable.


UPDATE: The Training Fund's CDA-to-Associate's Degree Registered Apprenticeship for Early Childhood Education Workers was also featured in a second New America report, Eight Recommendations for Connecting Apprenticeship & Higher Education, released on December 6, 2017 at a New America and Center on Education & Skills #ApprenticeshipForward policy forum. The Training Fund's own ECE Apprenticeship Coordinator, Ta`Mora Jackson, spoke on a Program Design Panel.

READ MORE...


June 23RD, 2017

Training Fund's Apprenticeship Work Featured in Grow PA

Training Fund Executive Director and US Apprenticeship pioneer Cheryl Feldman was asked to contribute to the Grow PA solutions journalism series, a partnership between Technical.ly Philly and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

READ MORE...


June 16TH, 2017

Sayre Health Center honored by National Fund for Workforce Solutions

At the National Fund's Workforce Leadership Convening in Philadelphia, Training Fund and GPHP partner Sayre received the Youth Program Award for an innovative new Apprenticeship Program developed and sponsored in partnership with GPHP.

READ MORE...


June 1ST, 2017

Congratulations, Training Fund Grads!

The Training Fund held its annual Graduation & Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, June 1 at the Kimmel Center in Center City Philadelphia. District 1199C President Henry Nicholas was honored for his decades of service to Philadelphia's workers and learners, receiving the Training Fund's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you and congratulations, President Nicholas, and congratulations and good luck to all of our graduates!

READ MORE...


May 1ST, 2017

Congratulations to our VITA Tax Team!

With our partners at the Campaign for Working Families, the IRS, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey, the Training Fund was part of a strong regional team responsible for bringing over $34,000,000 in tax refunds to individuals and families in the Delaware Valley.

READ MORE...


April 27TH, 2017

Training Fund & Generation Work Philadelphia Partners Awarded "Reimagine Retail" Grant

In 2016, in collaboration with the Walmart Foundation, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program launched Reimagine Retail, a project to explore ways to enhance job quality and improve mobility for workers in retail. Aspen has selected six local partners from around the country to receive up to $200,000 each to participate:
     - Philadelphia: Philadelphia Youth Network on behalf of Generation Work
     - Pittsburgh: Allegheny Conference on Community Development
     - San Diego: San Diego Workforce Partnership
     - San Francisco: Pacific Community Ventures
     - Chicago: Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
     - Phoenix: Center for the Future of Arizona

Over a two-year period, this diverse group of organizations, listed below, will grapple with important questions such as: What strategies best encourage improved job quality in retail? How do we support economic stability and mobility for entry-level workers? Who should lead these strategies? How do different economic circumstances and regional environments influence them?

Read more at aspeninstitute.org.


April 3RD, 2017

Gov. Wolf visits Training Fund

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf visited the Training Fund to talk apprenticeship, adult education, and healthcare workers' important role in the state's economy. He met with students and hosted a roundtable discussion on apprenticeship with Fund partners.

READ MORE...


March 9TH, 2017

Groundbreaking Apprenticeship Program for Pre-K Teachers Launches in Philadelphia

Apprentices will earn Associate’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education through the first-of-its-kind Training Fund-sponsored, William Penn Foundation-funded program.

READ MORE...


February 28TH, 2017

Sharing Our Heritage Day at the Training Fund celebrates 20 years

Training Fund students and staff of diverse ethnic backgrounds gathered to celebrate and share personal anecdotes, meaningful memories, cultural artifacts and family recipes.

READ MORE...


February 9TH, 2017

Training Fund, GPHP and Sayre Health Center register Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program with PA Apprenticeship & Training Council

GPHP Director Susan B. Thomas and Sayre HR Director Kenya Hall successfully register Medical Assistant Apprenticeship including 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning and 424 hours of classroom instruction provided by the Sayre Health Initiatives, Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD) program.

READ MORE...


January 31ST, 2017

District 1199C Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman recognized at 2017 Social Innovation Awards

Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman named second runner-up in Education Innovators category at Greater Philadelphia Innovation Awards.

READ MORE...


December 7TH, 2016

District 1199C Training Fund student featured in Philadelphia LISC Community Connector newsletter

Brittany succeeded in multiple Training Fund programs with support from program staff and LISC-funded Bridges to Career Opportunities coaches.

READ MORE...


November 16TH, 2016

Over 185 Students and Dozens of Health Professionals Training Fund/Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Partnership High School Health Career Fair a Success

 

This year’s High School Health Career Fair was one of many local events celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2016.

Read all about it on the GPHP blog at greaterphilahealthcare.org!


September 13TH, 2016

Training Fund's Occupational Center awarded 2016-17 OSHA training grant

 

 

US Labor Department awards $10.5M in workplace safety and health training grants to 77 nonprofit organizations — including Training Fund — to help high-risk workers, employers.

READ MORE...



September 7TH, 2016

Training Fund featured in US Department of Labor Newsletter

 

 

Training Fund's Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Partnership in the Employment & Training Administration's "Grantee Spotlight" in H-1B Skills Accelerator newsletter.

READ MORE...



July 29TH, 2016

Training Fund's College & Career Readiness and EL/Civics instructional teams honored by PA Department of Education

 

 

Training Fund receives four Bootise and W.E.S.T.O.V.E.R. Awards for excellence in adult education; EL/Civics team sets state record for EFL gains

READ MORE...



JUNE 22ND, 2016

Training Fund's Roxborough STE(A)M Scholars Profiled in Philadelphia Inquirer Feature

 

 

Jane M. Von Bergen's June 22nd Jobbing feature: "Nursing a new generation of health workers: A union program provides a pipeline."

READ MORE...



JUNE 2ND, 2016

Training Fund and Roxborough STE(A)M Scholars open HHS-funded RoxCITe Center

 

 

District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, Drexel ExCITe Center and Academies at Roxborough reveal new collaborative maker-space designed to promote STE(A)M Learning.

READ MORE...



FEBRUARY 3RD, 2016

District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund Opens Philadelphia’s 4th Financial Opportunity Center

 

 

Training Fund's new FOC will support career pathways for workers and job-seekers, helping them secure and maintain employment, increase their income, build savings, and acquire assets.

READ MORE...



FEBRUARY 3RD, 2016

Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on Literacy (MCOL) recognizes Training Fund tutor

 

 

This month, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy's website describes how Training Fund tutor Gary Rose is "paying it forward."

READ MORE...



JANUARY 21ST, 2016

LISC, Social Innovation Fund and District 1199C Training Fund join forces to open new opportunities for lower skilled workers in Philadelphia

 

 

New ‘Bridges to Career Opportunities’ addresses crippling education gaps — will support additional new services for Training Fund students in Occupational Bridge classes.

READ MORE...



JANUARY 4TH, 2016

Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on Literacy (MCOL) recognizes Training Fund student and her tutors

 

 

This month, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy's website features the inspiring story of Training Fund student Marisol Olivero and her tutors, Sylvia Cottmon and Keith Forsyth.

READ MORE...



DECEMBER 16ND, 2015

Annie E. Casey Foundation invests in boosting job prospects for Philadelphia's young adults

 

 

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, Job Opportunity Investment Network (JOIN), YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, and Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) will help lead this significant, five-year initiative, part of Casey's national Generation Work learning community.

READ MORE...



DECEMBER 2ND, 2015

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker Tours Breslin Learning Center

 

 

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, and Philadelphia Works, Inc. helped introduced new Fed President Patrick T. Harker to Philadelphia's workforce development community of practice.

READ MORE...



NOVEMBER 19TH, 2015

STE(A)M Scholars Program Launch at Roxborough High School

 

 

School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. William Hite joined partners from the New Faces: STE(A)M Scholars program at Roxborough High School to unveil a new, interactive approach to STE(A)M learning .

READ MORE...



NOVEMBER 6TH, 2015

Training Fund marks National Apprenticeship Week 2015 with annual Healthcare Career Fair

 

 

The Training Fund celebrated National Apprenticeship week in Philadelphia with more than 150 local high school students, US Department of Labor officials, and labor representatives from across Philadelphia at the 2015 Healthcare Career Fair.

READ MORE...



OCTOBER 5TH, 2015

Jobs to Careers: Reflections from Cheryl Feldman

 

 

Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman shares insights the Jobs to Careers initiative – an award-winning collaboration between The Hitachi Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Labor.

READ MORE...



SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2015

Training Fund's Partnership with Deer Meadows Home Health Celebrated by Philadelphia Works

 

 

The Philadelphia Workforce Development Board — Philadelphia Works, Inc. — featured the Deer Meadows/Training Fund collaboration in its September Board report.

READ MORE...



SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2015

"Health Workers Working Healthy" grant renewed by OSHA

 

 

The US Labor Department has awarded $10.5M in workplace safety and health training grants to 80 nonprofit organizations, including the Training Fund, to help high-risk workers and employers.

READ MORE...



SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2015

Training Fund among American Apprenticeship Leaders invited to first-ever White House Summit on Appernticeship

 

 

District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund Executive Director heard from VP Biden, Commerce Sec Pritzker and Labor Sec Perez at the important, inspiring and ground-breaking event

READ MORE...



JULY 10TH, 2015

Training Fund featured in Markle Foundation's America's Moment: Creating Opportunity in the Connected Age, a book by Rework America

 

 

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, and District 1199C member/Training Fund alumna Debra Burton, are profiled in Chapter 5 of America's Moment, "Share the Knowledge, Innovate the Jobs."

READ MORE...



JUNE 18TH, 2015

United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey recognizes Training Fund in "Non-Profits Know How to Live United" newsletter feature

 

 

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund was one of fourteen regional non-profit organizations highlighted for 100% staff participation in the United Way's LIVE UNITED! workplace giving campaign.

READ MORE...



JUNE 4TH, 2015

Congratulations, 2014-15 Training Fund Graduates!

 

 

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund held its 41st Annual Student Graduation & Recognition Ceremony on June 4th at the Kimmel Center in Center City Philadelphia.

READ MORE...



MAY 27TH, 2015

Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on Literacy (MCOL) recognizes Training Fund tutor and instructor

 

 

This month, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy's website features Training Fund College & Career Readiness (CCR) tutor Grace Zhang and instructor Vince Robinson. MCOL salutes dedicated instructors and tutors like Mr. Robinson and Grace Zhang whose drive to make a difference inspires and motivates their students.

READ MORE...



MAY 1ST, 2015

Training Fund's VITA Tax Site served 307 individuals during 2015 tax season

 

 

The final numbers are in: 307 union members, Training Fund students and community members were assisted by the Fund's Campaign for Working Families Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in 2015.

READ MORE...



APRIL 24TH, 2015

Training Fund recognized at White House UpSkill America summit

 

 

Training Fund Executive Director Cheryl Feldman and NUHHCE National President Henry Nicholas were among the national business, labor and workforce leaders welcomed to the White House's UpSkill America Summit by VP Biden, Secretary of Labor Perez, and others.

READ MORE...



APRIL 15TH, 2015

Rutgers Center for Women & Work releases Homecare training study

 

 

Rutgers report prepared in partnership with Training Fund employer partner Liberty Resources features interviews with homecare consumers and finds that consumers overwhelmingly support increased training opportunities for care workers.

READ MORE...



JANUARY 30TH, 2015

EITC Day Tax Season Kick-Off

 

 

Training Fund and District 1199C union member recognized at Campaign for Working Families Tax Season Kick-Off event, celebrating Earned Income Tax Credit Day.

READ MORE...



JANUARY 16TH, 2015

Ebola: Focus on Worker Safety symposium

 

 

Over 135 guests attended a day-long event on infection control and healthcare worker safety; featured speakers included representatives from the CDC, OSHA, healthcare unions, local government and hospitals, and university research centers.

READ MORE...


 

 

Administration