Update – Results Are In

After connecting with almost 1300 St. Paul residents this spring/summer, and almost 500 through a vote, our community has shared their need for a Work-Ready Alliance. We plan to look at the need for job training through a different lens. The community plea for collaboration will be a driving force in our work. We hope to build upon an alliance between educational/vocational training opportunities and businesses that have growing job opportunities. But most importantly, we will look at how to help remove barriers to job training and connect what we learn to neighborhoods of St. Paul to increase opportunity for low-income youth and adults.

Through the rest of October and November, our Action Group will help develop this idea and think of ways to increase our impact in reducing poverty in St. Paul, while looking at areas such as collaboration, education, parent and youth involvement, and equity. The Action Group is composed of 30 dedicated individuals who represent various organizations, community colleges, and neighborhoods, as well as the City of St. Paul and law enforcement.

1. April-May: We began with a conference in April to start the discussion of our community’s priorities.  Then our Advisory Council set the next steps.

2. June-August: We spent the summer conducting Community-based meetings in several communities that experience poverty, to learn their priorities and their efforts to address poverty.

3. September-November: In the fall, Action Groups will form to determine how to use the information gathered to make positive change.

4. December: In December, we’ll communicate the action plan and celebrate the work we have achieved together.

5. 2013: In 2013, the action plan will be funded and initiated.

• If you would like to be a member of an Action Group, please send your name, email and phone number to Molly Seaver at mseaver@caprw.org.

And we anticipate there will be further opportunities for involvement as our project develops. Stay tuned by joining our email list.