Resource Center

Administering Organization: Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the PwC Foundation

Posted Date: November 14, 2024

Closing Date for Applications: January 17, 2025

Estimated Total Program Funding: $300,000

Geographic Scope: National

Description: Jobs for the Future (JFF), with support from the PwC Foundation, is creating and supporting a cohort of 10 exemplary community and technical colleges in accelerating innovative programs that effectively connect learners—especially those facing systemic barriers, such as learners who identify as Black or Latine, women of all backgrounds, learners from low-income households and first-generation postsecondary education students—with paid work-based learning opportunities and quality jobs. Each college that is selected for this opportunity will receive $300,000 over a two-year period. Colleges will be expected to utilize these funds to strengthen, expand, and scale effective programming, enhance data collection and analysis, and share leading practices across a national network of innovative institutions.

Grant Information Page

Session Description: Providing structured workforce development programs for frontline public transit workers is of critical importance for transit agencies as they work to retain employees, integrate new technologies, and fill vacant positions. Attendees of this session learned how to use funding available to transit agencies for workforce development, such as the additional funding awarded for zero-emission projects under the Low-No/Bus and Bus Facilities grant program, and heard from agencies about how they have utilized grant funds and other FTA funding to develop and implement training programs.

Moderator:

• Karitsa Holdzkom: Senior Policy Analyst – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Zachary Bodle: Assistant Business Agent Maintenance – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 (CA)
• John Bodnar: Director, Office of Transit Programs – Federal Transit Administration
• Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Steve Jovel: Operations Manager, Workforce Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
• Jeff Rosenberg: Director of Government Affairs – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Mauro Varela: Treasurer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277 (CA)
• Kristin Warsinski: CEO – Riverside Transit Agency (CA)

MC24 Workforce Development Funding slides

Session Description: De-escalation, conflict avoidance, and conflict resolution are integral to an operator’s job. Operators primarily work alone, and the driver’s seat is an extremely vulnerable position. In this session, we honestly and productively explored the ways in which operators can deal with all manner of attacks, physical and verbal, and analyzed approaches to address the range of challenges that come with this profession. Presenters discussed different training models used to support operators with their challenges and engaged with the audience in considering options that can make a positive impact.

Moderator:

• Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Tricia Prince: Safety and Training Manager – Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
• Lakecha Strickland: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1212 (TN)
• Melissa Thomas: Transportation Training Manager – Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)
• Lisa Rae Vickery: Deputy Director of Operations Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

MC24 Conflict Resolution and De-Escalation slides

Session Description: This session dove deeper into targeted recruitment strategies for frontline transit careers. While the general outreach techniques covered in other Making Connections sessions work well across populations, some groups that have historically been underrepresented in transit may need to be recruited through intentional, specific approaches. This session featured industry experts who have been involved with thoughtful, creative recruitment methods targeting groups of people not often considered in recruitment efforts, including veterans, individuals returning to the community after incarceration, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. Participants gained new ideas for innovative recruitment techniques that can bolster the inclusiveness of transit workplaces and identify qualified candidates.

Moderator: 

• Dr. Shayna Gleason: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Dominique Bolton: Homeless Case Manager – Community Development Inc. (MS)
• Dr. Charles Husband: Program Specialist Team Leader – Mississippi Department of Transportation
• Bianca W. Phillips: Community Recruitment Manager – IndyGo
• Lora Posey: DSA Director – Community Development Inc. (MS)
• Adam Rosenfield: Program Manager, Workforce Outreach – CapMetro
• Judy Shanley: Assistant Vice President & National Director, Transportation & Mobility – Easterseals

MC24 Outreach for Underserved Communities slides

Session Description: Strong partnerships between transit and local colleges across the country currently support recruitment, retention, apprenticeships and other career advancement initiatives developed by agencies and their workforce partners. Presenters in this session reviewed and discussed several different models of industry-education partnerships, focusing on how to establish productive working relationships with local colleges to advance workforce development goals.

Moderator:

• Patricia Greenfield: Senior Director, Workforce Education – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Jason Abbott: Executive Director, Workforce Operations – Cuyahoga Community College
• Celeste Chavis: Interim Chair and Professor, Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies – Morgan State University (Baltimore)
• Rich Diaz: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
• Rob Gamble: Sr Workforce and Academic Strategist – California Transit Works!

MC24 College Connection slides

Session Description: In this engaging session attendees explored strategies for bridging the skills gaps of new hires and heard from presenters as they shared how they identified critical needs and implemented solutions. Participants took part in a working group to provide feedback on national resources being developed in key areas such as mechanical, electrical, computer skills, shop math, and technical writing.

Moderator: 

• Kristen Ribaudo: Senior Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Michael Hanssen: Supervisor of Technical Skills Training Washington – Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Ona Veda: Manager, Rail Training and Development – Metro Transit (MN)

MC24 Successful Career Pathways slides

Session Description: In this workshop, participants explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize training and development efforts. We explored practical applications of AI throughout the ADDIE model and advanced usages of AI for helping trainers synthesize information from large datasets. Attendees also learned about the ethical considerations surrounding AI in training and how to effectively use AI tools by improving prompt engineering to craft content.

Moderator:

• Arnett Powell: Adjunct Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Addie Khanu: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Jeff Pratt: Manager of Training – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)
• Michael Tomlinson: Solution Architect – Xpan

MC24 Integrating AI in Training slides

Session Description: This session delved into the most effective methods for training technicians to maintain today’s fleets of complex technology. We focused on proven strategies, such as starting with the fundamentals and progressing to hands-on training. Additionally, we discussed the value of mentorship and apprenticeship to facilitate the retention of the trained frontline workforce.

Moderator:

• Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Russell Anderson: Director Bus Maintenance Training – California Transit Works!
• Staci Hanna: Maintenance Training Manager – TriMet
• Brian Markey: Chief Executive Officer – Custom Training Aids Inc.

MC24 How Techs Learn slides