Building an Equitable Workforce Development Program Nationwide
Project Overview
Overview:
This project aimed to assist Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) in establishing an equitable workforce development program across its affiliates. The initiative focused on building inclusive programs that offer economic mobility opportunities to underrepresented groups, including veterans, women, BIPOC communities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. By understanding the needs of these communities, the goal was to ensure affiliates provide meaningful career development in trades, enhancing both local economic resilience and HFHI’s home-building capacity.
Key Achievements:
Inclusive Research: Engaged diverse communities to identify barriers and opportunities for workforce development.
Workforce Mobility: Created pathways for marginalized groups to enter trades, resulting in economic mobility and stronger communities.
Affiliate Engagement: Supported HFHI affiliates in structuring and delivering effective workforce development programs based on local needs.
co:census Strategy
co:census played a pivotal role in assisting HFHI by leading the research phase of this project. We facilitated focus groups, surveys, and interviews that captured the lived experiences of program participants and HFHI affiliates. This data helped shape the workforce development programs by identifying specific areas where HFHI could offer better support to affiliates, including training, program standardization, and participant support. Our insights also guided HFHI on how to structure workforce programs that align with strategic goals of equity and economic mobility.
Cultural Competency
Cultural competency was central to our strategy. Through our engagement plan, we ensured the voices of marginalized groups were heard, specifically targeting veterans, women, BIPOC, and previously incarcerated individuals. By understanding the unique challenges these groups face in accessing workforce opportunities, co:census helped HFHI develop more inclusive training programs that could better serve underrepresented communities 🎯.
Innovation
co:census leveraged advanced research tools to gather and analyze data from affiliates and participants, producing a clear picture of the program’s impact. This included:
Survey Responses: Over 100 affiliate responses analyzed, providing insights into local partnerships, demographics served, and program structures.
Heat Maps: Visualized how different demographic groups responded to workforce development programs across various regions.
Dashboard Analytics: We used our proprietary technology to track participation rates and demographic-specific outcomes, which informed HFHI’s strategic decisions on program implementation.
Outcomes
Achievements:
Inclusive Workforce Training: HFHI affiliates now have a clear framework for offering workforce development opportunities to underserved populations, leading to greater diversity in the trades.
Enhanced Local Partnerships: Through co:census insights, HFHI was able to strengthen partnerships between affiliates and local organizations, enhancing program delivery and effectiveness.
Standardized Program Models: Our research supported the development of scalable, standardized workforce development models that affiliates can implement based on local needs.
