Home → Committees → Meetings
Women's Employment Issues Committee Meeting
December 7, 2015: 9:30 AMFrances Perkins Rm, MDOL Commerce Dr, Augusta
Women?s Employment Issues Committee AGENDA 12/7/15 9:30 - Noon Frances Perkins Room, MDOL Introductions Approval of 9/21/15 minutes 2016 Committee Priorities and Process ? Come prepared to share (or update) briefly your/your organization?s 2016 priorities for women?s employment/economic security ? Building a Committee policy and program agenda for 2016, including intersectionality with other Committees and the SWB ? Setting 2016 meeting dates, priority topics to explore in more depth, most effective methods of communication Update on WIOA, SWIB, DOL Other Member Updates
Women?s Employment Issues Committee Meeting 12/7/15
Present: Gilda Nardone, Auta Main, Amertah Perman, Kelly Rickert, Joni Boissonneault, Karen Keim, Kelly Osborn, Christy Cross, Darylen Cote (phone), Valerie Carter (phone)
Staff: Cheryl Moran
• Gilda Nardone opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions.
Approval of 9/21/15 minutes • Gilda Nardone asked for approval of minutes with correction from Amertah. All voted minutes approved after correction.
2016 Committee Priorities and Process ? Come prepared to share (or update) briefly your/your organization?s 2016 priorities for women?s employment/economic security ? Building a Committee policy and program agenda for 2016, including intersectionality with other Committees and SWB ? Setting 2016 meeting dates, priority topics to explore in more depth, most effective methods of communication • Gilda Nardone, Committee Chair ? stated her primary focus will be priorities and process for 2016. She would like to get clear about our priorities as a Committee and to work with other Committees effectively and advising the Workforce Board. One of our challenges we face is that we still work in silos despite our best efforts. She provided a draft handout of 4 buckets (initial thinking on what and how) she would like this Committee to pursue in 2016 such as: 1) Education and Training 2) Employment and Business Ownership 3) Financial Education and Asset Ownership 4) Address Barriers to Women?s Economic Security She asked the question, how do we move forward? She suggested that we work on 3 or 4 areas that we really want to drill down. • Auta Main, Staff Person for the Veterans? Sub-Group of the SWIB/Veterans? Program Manager at MDOL ? stated female veteran numbers are small in Maine but the unemployment rate is high. She will work together with Terry Moore to find a better outreach strategy because Veteran women are not connecting at the CareerCenters. She would like to do more around training and also focus on financial literacy training. She feels that we may need to open up to more women in general than specifically Veteran women due to low percentage. The Betsy Ann Ross Hope House provides transitioning housing for Veterans. Also, Togus has provided hundreds of acres for the project ?Cabin in the Woods? (building small homes for single men and women Veterans). • Kelly Rickert, Director of Workforce Development OIT ? feels divorce plays a major factor. She would also like to break the stigma in IT Careers (in reference to women) and workforce in general specific to State Careers. For example, DHHS has an opening for a Public Service Manager II. She stressed that the language needs to be translated in a language of understanding. This is what she is working on. The job descriptions are outdated and it would take an Act of Congress to change which is a definite issue. They also have IT internships that pay $16.00 per hour (also must have IT experience). A lot of males have applied. The question is where are the females? • Karen Keim, Interim Director MEOC TRIO ? MEOC is funded to serve (access to post-secondary education) to a minimum of 2,269 adults per year. A brochure and handout was provided. Selected participants meet with outreach counselors throughout the state and meet in a group setting first then individually. They talk about the following services: ? Self-awareness ? College options ? Career awareness ? Financial aid ? Loan default ? Study skills ? Completing financial aid and Admission applications MEOC?s purpose is to break the cycle of poverty through education. Most adults are not adequately prepared. They are also leaving college with debt and running out of financial aid before receiving a credential. These facts contribute to the reasons why people leave college. • Darylen Cote, Director TRIO, Upward Bound ? stated they serve 600 students per year that are low-income, first generation or academically at risk. Two-thirds of participants are girls in both programs. She pointed out how an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy contributes to dropping out of high school and college. They have had phenomenal success in both the Upward Bound program and TRIO. • Amertah Perman, COO Maine Development Foundation ? stated there is a lot of opportunity to ?connect dots? in many different areas primarily the workforce (quantity/quality). We need to focus on adult learners and the role of the employer. She?s interested in data based on gender such as income disparity, college and no degree population and educational attainment. She feels there is a general discrimination in reference to women, stereotyping and income. In 2016, there will be a Summit in reference to increasing the quality of the workforce and maintaining talent. • Valerie Carter, Bureau of Education through the University of Maine ? has a background in Sociology. They do not specifically specialize in women?s issue, primarily employment law. But in a nature?s sense, age discrimination and equal pay. Her priority deals with labor market analysis, access and data (which she loves). In Maine, projections over the next 10 years with the exception of Registered Nurses, women will be found in occupations with low wages. • Kelly Osborn, Executive Director Goodwill Industries of Northern New England ? stated their goal is to move people into financial stability. They have 2 key partners. New Ventures and the Portland Housing Authority. They also leverage funds from Americore, Maine Department of Labor, Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Veterans. They try to serve small groups of people (25) who are in intensive services. People that have barriers such as transportation, housing, childcare and lack of a livable wage. They do serve a large number of women. Currently, they are in the process of how to work better with people that have a brain injury. On a personal level, she is very committed to this Committee. • Christy Cross, EEO Coordinator MDOT ? stated she has been a member for a long time and hears the same things over and over again but never any action. This is very frustrating. She asked, is there any way to do things different at this point? We need to do things different because we definitely have a challenging workforce. Update on WIOA, SWB, DOL • Gilda Nardone ? Committees are starting to communicate more effectively. The Recommendation on People with Disabilities was the first time where Committees have come together on Policy issues. She would like to see more of this happening and women in each of these categories. With the renewed Workforce Board, there is renewed energy and she feels hopeful. She attends the State Workforce Board meeting often. She wants to report feedback to Garret Oswald and Cheryl Moran to bring to the State Workforce Board. She feels there is opportunity for us to have a voice. She was a little disappointed that the Chairs of the Committees not being part of the actual Board. Maine may be the only State that has a women?s committee. This will be looked at not only at the state level but national. 2016 meeting dates. Gilda suggested meeting bi-monthly not during the summer. Members agreed. Members discussed dates. Cheryl will check for availability and notify members if available or not available. • Auta Main ? WIOA is an opportunity for us due to mandating certain partners to come together for women and all other groups. • Cheryl Moran ? the State Unified Plan still is in the draft stage. Hoping to have the draft completed soon. Once draft is complete, all committee members will be able to view for comment before it goes out for public comment.
Other Member Updates • Gilda Nardone ? 2016 goals: ? Set consistent meeting dates ? Distance technology ? how to use and when to determine participation to be around the table ? Final check-in with people who have not been communicating Gilda stated she will update the member list.
Next meeting TBD based on availability.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran
Attachments