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College Receives Grant to Support Local Workforce Development
Westchester Community College Receives Grant to Support Local Workforce Development from Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative at Westchester Community Foundation
Westchester Community College has been selected by the Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative to receive a $100,000 grant to be used to train future healthcare workers.
The grant will enable the college to create the Westchester Healthcare Career Pathway Network. Working with government and industry partners, the program will be housed at the College’s Mount Vernon Extension Center, and recruit and train 40 participants for healthcare occupations using a career readiness curriculum with training in soft and hard skills. Successful participants will earn college credits and a health career credential, and will be matched for a four-week externship work experience, leading to interview opportunities for healthcare jobs. Industry partners include the 1199 Homecare Education Fund, Montefiore Medical Center, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Wartburg. Partners will contribute to the curriculum, offer valuable externship and/or employment opportunities.
This grant was made possible by the Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative, a unique partnership of local and regional funders convened by the Westchester Community Foundation, (a division of The New York Community Trust), to enhance the effectiveness of our local workforce. The grant was awarded to the Westchester Community College Foundation, which raises funds to support the College’s efforts in meeting the needs of all students, regardless of financial limitations. The college’s division of Workforce Development and Community Education will lead the initiative.
“Westchester County was the original epicenter for COVID-19 in New York,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President at Westchester Community College. “While our region has been severely impacted by this pandemic, it has been inspiring to see how so many in our community stepped up to answer the call to help and to serve. Westchester Community College plays a key role in training our next generation of critically needed frontline healthcare workers. Through the support of the Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative we will be able to meet these needs faster and more broadly.”
“The Westchester Healthcare Career Pathway Network, located here in Mount Vernon, is an exciting partnership opportunity for Wartburg and we are looking forward to the next steps,” said Dr. David Gentner, President & CEO of Wartburg. “My thanks to everyone at WCC and the Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative for making it happen.”
“We’re looking forward to partnering with Westchester Community College to develop a career pathway for Nursing Attendants. Nursing Attendants at Burke fulfill a critical need in caring for patients and are instrumental in ensuring our patients have a great experience and a quality outcome. Those who possess the clinical knowledge and soft skills needed to provide compassionate care will find nursing to be a rewarding career with growth potential,” stated Annette Bucci, Vice President, Human Resources at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.
“At Westchester Community Foundation, we don’t shy away from challenges,” said Laura Rossi, Executive Director of the Westchester Community Foundation. “While these grants were awarded after several years of preparation, they mark the start of a recovery effort that will grow in importance in the years ahead.”
For more information about the Westchester Healthcare Career Pathway Network contact pathwaystohealthcare@sunywcc.edu.
About Westchester Community College
Westchester Community College is the largest higher education institution in the county, serving over 24,000 credit and noncredit students. Students pursue over 60 degree and certificate programs and short term industry recognized credentials on a beautiful 218-acre campus, at 7 conveniently located extension centers, and online. Westchester Community College reflects the rich diversity of its region, and was the first SUNY campus to be designated an Hispanic Serving Institution.
Westchester Community Foundation
Westchester Community Foundation’s mission is to connect generous people to the causes they care about and invest in transformative ideas and organizations to improve lives and strengthen our community. The Foundation is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country, with assets of approximately $2.6 billion.
The Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative
The Westchester Workforce Funders Collaborative is a group of local and regional funders with a shared interest in workforce issues. The Collaborative’s goal is to enhance the effectiveness of local workforce development efforts in closing skills gaps, meeting the needs of the regional labor market, and supporting economic mobility for Westchester and Putnam residents. Partners include CIT Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co., MVP Health Care, TD Charitable Foundation, The Patrina Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation.