Our goal is to explore proactive and integrated approaches to remedying historically reactive and fragmented workforce development systems. We see the opportunities for connection and collaboration today as essential to building a reliable foundation to initiate and advance policies that will shape NYC’s economic future - a future that requires an inclusive and innovative workforce agenda. With an upcoming citywide election cycle, followed by a statewide election cycle (and on the heels of the recent national election results), it is more important than ever that our priorities are aligned and actionable.
By engaging in discussions about innovative policy frameworks, pinpointing key gaps in workforce participation and equity, and highlighting the investments required to meet industry demands and labor market realities, we are preparing to shape a workforce agenda for 2025 that effectively serves the individuals and communities we understand best.
Onward.
The NYC
Employment & Training Coalition proudly celebrates our community of 220 members in NYC.
Thank you to the workforce development service providers, educational institutions and labor organizations that provide job training and employment services to over 200,000 New Yorkers. We are honored to be your coalition.
Share Your Questions
We will be using Slido to help facilitate an interactive Q&A before and during the conference. Start sending your questions now, or go to slido.com and enter the event code: Policy
Tips & Reminders for submitting questions
— Questions can be submitted anonymously for each panel. — We encourage you to access Slido before and during the conference to review and upvote what others have posted. We will prioritize and address questions based on the audience’s interests.
WiFi: NYCETC Password: Workforce
Schedule of Events: Conference Kick-off
8:00 AM
Registration Opens
1st Floor - Lobby
8:30 AM
Legislative Breakfast Co-Hosted by New York City Council Majority
Leader Amanda Farías and Wayne Ho, Chinese-American Planning Council
2nd Floor - Events Hall
9:30 AM
Welcome Remarks
1st Floor - Safra Hall
Leslie Abbey, Hot Bread Kitchen
Kiersten Barnet, New York Jobs CEO Council
Nuno Francisco, Citizens
Jen Mitchell, The Doe Fund
Gregory J Morris, NYCETC
Debbie Roman, Per Scholas
9:45 AM
Keynote Remarks by Adrienne Adams, Speaker, New York City Council
1st Floor - Safra Hall
Submit your questions for our panels throughout the day on slido.com by using participant code Policy or scan the QR code below.
Schedule of Events: Morning Breakout Sessions
Choose one
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
NYC, Now Hiring: Pathways to Jobs and Careers in the Municipal Workforce
1st Floor - Room 117 - 118
Annie Martinez, Year Up United (Moderator)
Robert Jackson, New York State Senate
Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council
Louis A. Molina, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Derick Bowers, Goodwill Industries
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
A Strategic Vision for NYC’s Industrial Growth and Economic Development
1st Floor - Safra Hall
Anthony Watson, Manhattan EOC (Moderator)
Dynishal Gross, NYC Small Business Services
Amanda Farías, New York City Council
Kinda Younes, ITAC
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
From Arrival to Opportunity: Shaping the Future of NYC’s Workforce
3rd Floor - Keeping History Center
Therese Daly, NYATEP (Moderator)
Yesenia Mata, La Colmena
Jina Krause-Vilmar, Upwardly Global
Kerry Brodie, Emma’s Torch
Steven Choi, Ellis Island Initiative
Alexa Avilés, New York City Council
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Queens on the Rise: The Intersection of Innovation and Opportunity 2nd Floor - Café
Ralph Ortega, City & State NY (Moderator)
Dr. Nantasha Williams, New York City Council
Danielle Ellman, Commonpoint
Tom Grech, Queens Chamber of Commerce
Kenneth Adams, LaGuardia Community College
Jukay Hsu, Pursuit
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Reimagining Upskilling: A Win-Win for Workers and the Economy
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Degan Leopold, New York Jobs CEO Council (Moderator)
Gisele Castro, exalt
Randy Peers, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Angie Kamath, New York University School of Professional Studies
Priya Ramanathan, FutureFit AI
Arana Hankin-Biggers, The Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store
Schedule of Events: Mid-Day Breakout Sessions
Choose one
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Are We There Yet? Public Transit and Workforce Development in NYC
1st Floor - Safra Hall
Stephen Nessen, WNYC News (Moderator)
Gary LaBarbera, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, New York City Council
Jamie Torres-Springer, MTA Construction & Development
Lisa Sorin, Bronx Chamber of Commerce
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Growth for All: Connecting Economic Development and Social Mobility
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Eli Dvorkin, Center for an Urban Future (Moderator)
Cecilia Kushner, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Ashley Putnam, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
David S. Berman, NYC Opportunity
Jessica Sager, All Our Kin
Shari Krull, StreetWise Partners
David Charron, JobsFirstNYC
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The Next Wave: Sustainability Jobs and Careers on NYC’s Waterfront
2nd Floor - Café
Phenix Kim, NYN Media (Moderator)
Ian Straughter, Bedford Stuyvesant
Restoration Corporation
Lindsay Greene, Brooklyn Navy Yard
Christine Zagari-LoPorto, Kingsborough Community College
Wil Fisher, Rise Light & Power
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
From Awareness to Action: Tackling the Gender Pay Gap In NYC
3rd Floor - Keeping History Center
Holly Pretsky, City & State NY (Moderator)
Sharon Sewell-Fairman, Women
Creating Change
Rachel Friedman, Girls Who Code
Farah Louis, New York City Council
Lauren Leader, All In Together
Sonia Atsegbua, Basta
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Healthy Hiring: Enhancing Skills and Career Opportunities in NYC’s Health and Human Services
1st Floor - Room 117 - 118
Ayesha George, STRIVE (Moderator)
Daniel Bustillo, 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds
Kimberly Kendall, Lehman College
Elyse Zlotnikov, NewYork-Presbyterian
Daniel Liss, NYC Talent
Schedule of Events: Lunch Conversations & Activations
12:30 PM
Pick up your lunch, join our lunch discussions, and visit our exhibitors
2nd Floor - Events Hall
12:50 PM - 1:30 PM
Fireside Chat: Young Adult Career Success
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Abby Jo Sigal, NYC Talent (Moderator)
Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, The City University of New York
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, New York City Public Schools
Keith Howard, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Championing Workers: A Fireside Chat with Senator Ramos
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Darren Bloch, Greenwich House (Moderator)
Jessica Ramos, New York State Senate
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Complimentary Headshots powered by Bandana
1st Floor - Room 115 - 116
All Day Exhibitors
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Citizens Drive Change
Empire State Development - Office of Strategic Workforce Development
Geographic Solutions
Hot Bread Kitchen
NYSERDA
Schedule of Events: Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Choose one
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Second Chances, Stronger Futures: Empowering Justice-Impacted
Individuals Through Workforce Innovation
3rd Floor - Keeping History Center
Christopher Watler, Center for Employment Opportunities (Moderator)
Michael Pope, Esq, Youth Represent
Ronald Day, The Fortune Society
Noah Bein, Jobs for the Future
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Earning More, Losing Less: Addressing the Challenges of Benefits Cliffs
1st Floor - Room 117 - 118
Evelyn Ortiz, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (Moderator)
Shoshana Marder, Leap Fund
Raysa S. Rodriguez, FPWA
Dorothy (Dede) Hill, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
Dina Rabiner, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Listening to Improve: Leveraging
Insights from the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce to Enhance Impact in NYC
2nd Floor - Café
Chioke Mose-Telesford, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
Alex Breen, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
From Gaps to Gains: Expanding Connectivity and Skills Across NYC
1st Floor - Safra Hall
David Fischer (Moderator), Altior Policy Solutions
Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senate
Andrew Rasiej, Civic Hall
Jerelyn Rodriguez, The Knowledge House
Kevin Riley, New York City Council
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Contracting for Change: Solutions for NYC’s Procurement Challenges
2nd Floor - Events Hall
John Celock, City & State New York (Moderator)
John MacIntosh, SeaChange Capital Partners
Julie Won, New York City Council
Michelle Jackson, Human Services Council of New York
Justin Brannan, New York City Council
Ira Yankwitt, Literacy Assistance Center
Schedule of Events: Program Conclusion
3:30 PM
First Look at Putting Our Dollars to Work: An Analysis of Public Funding for Workforce Development in NYC
2nd Floor - Events Hall
Apurva Mehotra, Founder and Principal, Clear Capacity Research & Consulting
2,200+
1,000+ industry certifications issued Building Skills & Building Futures through job placement and training services across the five boroughs
33,000+ hours of hard skills training provided
The CD&R Foundation celebrates the New York City Employment and Training Coalition and its dedication to strengthening NYC’s workforce.
Made ready to succeed.
Citizens is proud to support the New York City Employment and Training Coalition and the 2024 NYCETC Conference.
Chinese-American Planning Council
is proud to support the NYC Employment and Training Coalition on the 2024 Conference
CPC welcomes 80,000 community members annually to over 50 high-quality programs in the areas of Education, Family Support, and Community and Economic Empowerment.
www.cpc-nyc.org
BUILDING PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) works to uplift NYC’s greatest asset: New Yorkers
Our commitment to equity means accelerating economic mobility for the people of New York City.
We pursue a strategy that advances three pathways:
• Diverse entrepreneurship
• M/W/DBE
• Workforce development
Visit edc.nyc to learn more. Contact partnerships@edc.nyc to explore opportunities.
Where tomorrow’s workforce begins
Genesys Works paves pathways to career success for high school students through summer skills training, year-long meaningful internships in business and tech, and impactful mentorship. Join us to shape a workforce equipped to thrive.
For more information, visit: genesysworks.org/new-york
Bringing innovative solutions to the for 131 years workforce development Lower East Side —and counting!
Hot Bread Kitchen creates economic opportunity for women, gender-expansive people, immigrants, and people of color through careers in New York City’s vibrant food industry.
We offer culinary skills training, job placement, small business development programs, and case-management support, with programming available across New York City.
200+ 550+
ACTIVE EMPLOYER PARTNERS ACROSS NYC
ENTREPRENEURS WHOSE SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES WE HAVE HELPED SEED, START, AND SCALE
1,800+
BREADWINNERS WHO ARE DRIVEN, AMBITIOUS, AND READY TO RISE
NewYork-Presbyterian thanks New York City Employment and Training Coalition for their work in workforce development and is proud to sponsor the 2024 NYCETC Conference.
New York State is investing in its most valuable resource— people—to create a workforce that can deliver the skills to build our clean energy future.
NYSERDA programs train and place professionals, recent graduates, and individuals from underserved communities in paid internships and full-time jobs across the State with clean energy businesses.
NYSERDA provides funding to support organizations that deliver clean energy coursework, professional development, and job preparedness services.
By connecting individuals, training providers, community partners, and businesses, New York State is building a clean energy future.
FROM THE SKYSCRAPERS THAT COMPRISE NEW YORK CITY’S ICONIC SKYLINE TO COUNTLESS BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS, TUNNELS, SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS, UNIVERSITIES, HOSPITALS AND MORE – THE NEW YORK STATE LABORERS UNION HAS BEEN PROUDLY BUILDING NEW YORK FROM THE GROUND UP SINCE 1903.
For people ready for a new start, STRIVE provides a pathway to possible.
Our tuition-free skills and job readiness training, one-on-one support and lifetime personal coaching help people who are motivated to see beyond their circumstances and realize the best of their future.
Learn more at strive.org/nyprograms
STRIVE New York graduates, 2024.
As a CDFI, UMEZ supports meaningful collaboration between workforce and economic development.
We congratulate NYCETC on this year’s workforce development convening, bringing together policy-makers and practitioners driving impact and fostering inclusive economic growth.
Thank You
We are grateful for the generous support from our 2024 conference sponsors.