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Seattle Jobs Initiative

Our Mission

SJI supports people from underinvested communities to build careers By creating equitable workforce systems and developing impactful partnerships, we address structural racism.

Our Vision

Every worker has a career that allows them, their family, and community to thrive

2023 Snapshot

Far right, SJI's Associate Director of Healthcare Pathways, Frankie Roe, celebrating with valued colleagues from YWCA and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Training Fund.

Second from right, SJI's Samantha Poster, Senior Consultant, with community partners from Evergreen Goodwill, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW Training Fund, Washington Maritime Blue, and Pierre Ford.

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Our Values

INTEGRITY - We are responsible to our community and are committed to honesty, accountability, transparency, and excellence as we act as good stewards of our resources

EQUITY - To gain equitable, inclusive access to living wage jobs and careers for all, we partner to remove racial and other systemic barriers.

INNOVATION - We are committed to meaningful change through knowledge, curiosity, and adaptability.

GRIT - We embody determination, perseverance, and resilience in pursuit of our vision. We do not give up.

EMPATHY - We endeavor to do all of our work from a position of humility and respect for all people that is grounded in caring, compassion, and understanding

COLLABORATION - We invest in authentic partnerships. Good things happen when we work together.

L-R, SJI's Executive Director Ryan Davis, SJI's Board Chair Ben Wolters and supporters from Amerigroup.

Our History

As federal policy reduced opportunities for job training for low-income individuals, then Mayor, Norm Rice was looking for ways to do things differently. He partnered the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) to create Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI). The goal was to develop a one-stop shop that would combine job-skills training, wraparound services, and business involvement to connect low-income individuals with living-wage jobs. In 1997, SJI launched. SJI spun off from OED in January 2003 and established itself as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Today, SJI continues to function as a workforce development intermediary invested in providing long-term solutions for a diverse workforce that serves the needs of both industry and the residents of Washington. This work is achieved through SJI's teams of Partnerships and Career Pathways; Policy, Research and Evaluation; and Consulting and Technical Assistance. Together, we continue the work envisioned by Mayor Rice.

2023 Snapshot

Kim Anderson Finance Committee

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Our Board

Principal Program Manager

Amazon

Rod Brandon Executive Director Seattle Housing Authority

Marie Bruin Director, Workforce Education

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

David Jackson, III Director, Talent Pathways and Learning

HealthPoint

Jiquanda Nelson CEO Diversity Window

Ben Pierson Secretary & Treasurer

Senior Program Officer, Integrated Delivery Global Health

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Ben Wolters Board Chair Economic Development Manager City of Lynnwood

In 2022, 25% of board members were newly installed. Our reshaped board is more diverse and more closely reflects the residents of the Seattle-King County area. These leaders work in higher education, technology, city/state agencies and for internationally recognized foundations

Our Senior Leadership

Ryan Davis Executive Director

Brandon Anaya Managing Director of Policy & Consulting

Kevin Osborn Director of Operations

Hanna Welch Director of Communications & Technology

Tim Gould Interim Director of Finance

Stephanie Mangune Director of Human Resources

2023 Snapshot

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Our Staff

SJI's goal is to train and retain those we hire. We not only want to provide careers for our clients, but we believe in doing so for our staff too. In 2022, 10 staff were promoted into new roles in the organization.

The SJI team is made up of researchers, consultants, career navigators, case managers, program managers, and directors whose careers have been helping shape and lead workforce services. Our team members often reside in and reflect the diverse communities we serve; many share similar lived experiences.

2023 Snapshot

Our Expertise

Partnerships and Career Pathways

SJI provides career-start technical and performance skills training that leads to a career pathway in growing local industry sectors. We align support services – career navigation, housing, childcare, transportation –to provide participants the best opportunity to complete training, secure employment and retain well-paying jobs. Individuals acquire the skills needed to advance out of poverty, while simultaneously meeting the demands of local businesses for a skilled workforce.

In 2023 we are launching three new trainings: HVAC, Maritime, Green Stormwater Infrastructure. 2022 highlights include:

Amber is a single mom who "had to put her dreams on hold to make ends meet." She graduated with the Fall 2022 cohort and is now employed by Providence-Swedish. Her goals include the spring NA-C cohort and then earn her RN. “IHAP allowed me to gain the selfconfidence that I had been lacking. ”

Seema was responsible for supporting her family of seven. She was referred to SJI by International Rescue Committee. Seema was given a laptop, received basic computer training and intensive career navigation. She started her first job in the U.S. in April 2022. She hopes to earn a degree in business.

Ricky was a landscaper but unable to earn a wage to support his 3 children and spouse After losing his job during the pandemic, he turned to SJI Ricky successfully completed the Pre-Apprenticeship program and is now an ironworker apprentice making $2919 per hour

Selamawit enrolled during a time of transition She progressed through career workshops to employment searches She worked with Rapid Rehousing to secure a permanent residence Her drive combined with our programming provided a path to employment, starting college, and self-sufficiency.

Intro to Healthcare Apprenticeship Program

Digital Bridge Trades

Housing and Jobs

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Our Expertise

Policy, Research and Evaluation

Our team’s work complements our program efforts and allows us to achieve a far greater impact for low-income communities than through program services alone. The overall objective is to identify systemic issues and provide solutions. This work addresses the barriers that low-income individuals face in obtaining the education and jobs they need to advance out of poverty. Use this link to view current research projects.

SJI's research impacts not only the organizations that hire us, but ultimately the constituents those agencies serve.

Our Expertise

Consulting

The consulting team helps government, education, and workforce systems design, implement, and fund more equitable and effective programs Our services have made a difference in 43 states to date.

Focus work includes: Human-Centered Design works to make systems and programs more responsive to the needs of the under-served.

Technical Assistance is the nation’s leading expert in helping state and local governments, and provider partners, operationalize and expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T).

Equity and Environmental Justice represents our work to address disparities and barriers to ensure communities fully and meaningfully participate in decisions affecting their health and wellbeing

2023 Snapshot

2023 Spotlight Partners Our Approach

How We Measure Success

We use our strategic plan’s key performance indicators to measure our impact

Goal 1: Empower underinvested communities and people to participate in and benefit from an inclusive economic recovery.

Primary Metrics: Include services provided, client demographics, job placements, wages, number of BIPOC led/serving partnerships, and percentage of BIPOC served.

18 active collaborations with BIPOC community-based organizations

69% of clients served identified as BIPOC

$2105, average starting wage for SJI program completers

Goal 2: Solidify SJI’s role in the Seattle-King County workforce development ecosystem while expanding work across the greater Puget Sound region.

Primary Metrics: Increasing employer representation on committees and added employer partnerships resulting in coordinated systems and increased job placements

29 workforce partner agencies engaged in learning

18 industry partnerships

$2.7M additional regional workforce funds

Co-developing Maritime Leadership Table

Goal 3: Expand and diversify SJI’s work as a nationally recognized provider of technical assistance and research for SNAP E&T.

Primary Metrics: National impact

12 new SNAP E&T providers

10 community colleges

7 reports published in high profile areas

2023 Snapshot

Our Participants

Historically, training and career/educational pathways were provided to under and unemployed adults in King County. In 2021, work expanded into Snohomish and Pierce counties This expansion included services for young adults, ages 16-24. Our participants are usually at or below 200+% of the federal poverty limit. Last year, our clients reported speaking 34 native languages other than English. We are passionate about our work to remove or diminish barriers underrepresented communities face.

Participants Served N=728

Light Touch: assistance without program enrollment: resume writing, job searches, connection to resources.

Participant Age - High Touch Only

2 clients were under 18.

Program Enrollments - Light and High Touch

3 programs had 2 or fewer enrollments and are not listed.

Additional Demographics - High Touch Only

Disability data collection started in April.

Participants by Race & Ethnicity - Light and High Touch

Seattle Jobs Initiative

2023 Financials

Operating Budget: $4,679,093

SJI manages a diverse revenue portfolio (city, county, state, federal and private) for our training and research services. Additionally, donations are received from individuals via our website, from employee groups and board members. Grants are also a revenue source. We leverage funding to increase our capacity and ensure program sustainability.

We utilize the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to ensure proper reporting and transparency. SJI receives an annual financial statement audit and Single Audit as applicable.

2022 Revenue - $3,953,486

Our Partners

At Seattle Jobs Initiative, our work is not done in isolation. We collaborate with other community-based organizations; community colleges and universities; city, county, and state governments; workforce boards; and industry to maximize our potential, expand our reach, and magnify our impact.

Our partnership with SJI has been invaluable to the Seattle Public Library’s ability to help job seekers in our community. We especially appreciate their commitment to working with community partners to serve Seattle’s diverse communities.

Elizabeth Iaukea Workforce Development & Adult Basic Education Program Manager Seattle Public Library

2023 Snapshot

for Our Next 25 Years

During our first 25 years, the scope of our work (construction, maritime, aviation, technology, welding, healthcare) has evolved as have program outcomes (digital credentials, certificates, certifications, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and post-secondary educational pathways) and locations (King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Yakima Counties). What has remained constant, and will continue to be our focus moving forward, is our commitment to low-income and low-skilled clients and the goal to help every worker have a career that allows them, their family, and community to thrive.