The Sewing Labs apprenticeship program opens pathways for KC residents

To quickly build a skilled workforce, two Kansas community colleges and Panasonic created an accelerated 8-week apprenticeship, funded by the company and featuring tailored classroom and practical training. The program aims to fast-track workers into Panasonic's new EV battery factory while providing clear career pathways through stackable credentials.

“Grow your own” programs, like Reach University’s, are working to address teacher shortages, particularly in rural areas, by recruiting school employees who don’t have college or education degrees and giving them a chance to earn an undergraduate degree in education at just $75 a month. Participants take courses online and take 15 hours out of their work week to spend time observing and training in classrooms. So far 84% of all parishes across the state have signed up to take Reach trainees, which could put a significant dent in the statewide teacher vacancy issue.

iWorker is a virtual assistant agency that connects bilingual professionals from economically troubled countries like Venezuela to businesses in the US, Europe, and Canada. By connecting workers with these jobs, the platform not only provides them with an income, it ensures that the income will be paid in a foreign currency more stable than their own, helping the recipients manage surging rates of inflation. Since 2018, iWorker has provided work to over 4,500 Venezuelans inside and outside of the country.

In Des Moines, Iowa, the Evelyn K. Davis Center provides wraparound support to a wide range of populations seeking stable employment. From internet access to financial counseling to job coaching, the center aims to "individualize ... game plans" and empower clients to become self-sufficient.

ACCESS Development Services trains women to drive electric auto rickshaws, providing them with marketable skills that help them earn a living independently. The all-women Pink City Rickshaw Company employs the women to provide tours throughout the city and has since trained over 200 women.

South Dakota technical colleges partner closely with the renewable energy industry through specialized academic programs, responsive curriculum changes, and targeted scholarships, effectively addressing workforce shortages, achieving high-paying job placements, and catalyzing local economic growth.

The Philadelphia-based company Solar States offers a paid training opportunity for city residents to learn to install solar panels and earn the necessary credentials to help them start careers in the industry. The company’s newest program, Find Your Ladder, is a training opportunity for people who have been through the criminal justice system.

The Women Radio Centre (WRC) works to empower the next generation of female investigative journalists, training them on reporting tactics to prevent gender disparities and promote reporting on women’s rights, as women are often underrepresented in investigative journalism. WRC also aims to equip young, female journalists with adequate training and connect them with job, networking and story opportunities. In WRC’s second year, 40 journalists have been trained and completed the program.

Immigrants Rising’s Mental Health Career Program helps undocumented state residents get into college and start careers as therapists and doctors. The Program’s goal is to increase the number of available undocumented therapists by making education easily accessible, thus creating more professionals who can better relate to other members of their community and provide more effective care.

To combat unemployment, the Girls2Women Initiative runs 6- to 12-week training programs for girls and women in underserved communities in Nigeria. During this time they learn skills they can use to find a job or start their own business in industries like graphic design, decor, and tailoring.