Womens' Employment Committee

January 7, 2019: 9:30 AM
45 Commerce Dr, Augusta Frances Perkins Room

Women’s Employment Committee AGENDA 1/7/19 9:30 – Noon Frances Perkins Room, MDOL 9:30 Introductions 9:45 – 10:45 Planning for the new Administration and Legislature in 2019—policy goals and priorities of the Women’s Employment Committee, other women’s advocates, intersections with other SWB Committees Please come prepared to contribution your insights and organization’s top 3 – 5 priorities to the conversation. Break 11:00 – 11:30 Approval of 12/03/18 minutes WIOA/DOL/SWB Updates 11:30 – Noon Member updates 2019 Meetings (9:30 – Noon in Frances Perkins Room at MDOL, unless otherwise determined) Monday, March 18 Monday, May 20 Monday, July 15 Monday, September 16 Monday, November 18

WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

01/07/2019

Present: Gilda Nardone, (Chair), Peaches Bass, Joni Boissonneault, Kelly Samson-Rickert, Christy Hastedt, Megan Hannah, Erin Benson (Phone), Valerie Carter (Phone)

Staff: Joshua Howe, Cheryl Moran

Introductions Gilda Nardone opened the meeting at 9:35am with welcome and introductions. She stated the focus in 2019 will be planning for the new Administration and Legislature, policy goals and priorities. This will be a beginning conversation and will continue in between and into our next meeting in March. Next, Gilda asked members about their thoughts on the new Administration. Joshua Howe stated he was impressed with the importance of immigrants in the workforce that was mentioned in the new Governor’s speech. The new (Acting) Commissioner of Labor, Laura Fortman made a surprise visit. Gilda stated once this committee establishes their priorities, they will share with the Commissioner.

? Women’s participation rates: Gilda stated we will need to look at data and are there strategies? She stated she will check with Ruth Ladd. ? Corrections: There is an increase interest and we need to look at this population. Joshua Howe then questioned, are these programs actually working after release?

Planning for the new Administration and Legislation 2019- policy goals and priorities of the Women’s Employment Committee, other women’s advocates, intersections with other SWB Committees

Please come prepared to contribution your insights and organization’s top 3- 5 priorities to the conversation Peaches Bass stated we need to obtain meaningful statistical data. Data is broken down by gender. We need to revisit this.
Peaches also suggested to add mental health and substance abuse issues to the Target Groups list. She pointed out that infant mortality has increased in this state and what role does this play in the workforce - Social health as well as economic health. Staffer expansion needs to happen. Kelly Samson-Rickert - 1. Intergenerational/cultural issues 2. Continue building on programs they have 3. Workforce innovations in the State of Maine across the board 4. Struggling with the transition of knowledge due to the Baby Boomer generation retiring 5. Embrace technology whether in manufacturing or business Joshua Howe, following up to what Kelly pointed out stated we should look at 2 things; 1) technology innovation and 2) mindset Joni Boissonneault – ? The Portland Housing Authority are expanding their housing ? Building tax credit properties – Bayside Anchor ? Need to work on their marketing/social media ? Collaborating with partners that are on site ? Expanding Section 8 outreach ? Working with New Ventures Maine – Financial Literacy program – excited to collaborate with other partners ? In talks with Sweetser to be in-house or designated with one of their properties ? Expand outreach to their residents by providing stability Overall – integrated services. Joshua Howe suggested working with the Portland Libraries is a great resource. Megan Hannah stated they are working with survivors of sexual trafficking. She stated they are trying to get their record expunged because they were convicted through association although they did not commit the crime. Megan strongly stated she would like education recognized in this country what professions immigrants had in their native country – this is a real problem. Erin Benson pointed out the biggest barriers she feels is transportation and child care. Valerie Carter stated she agrees about transportation from her personal perspective. They have a Transportation for All program in Bangor. In terms of priorities, work with individual unions – Steward training and outreach. Academic side – labor studies. Priority #1 – Maine Guide to Employment Law – Goal is to get this updated. Priority #2 – Continue teaching their Labor Studies course. Valerie also stated she would like to see gender data outcomes.
Chris Hastedt – ? Lift I Bill – this bill will now move forward. They can purchase cars for very low-income families – working cars for working families ? They are working on a bunch of bills and initiatives ? Lift III – focus is on child poverty ? Welfare Cliff – change the way benefits are determined ? PAS – need to create a Navigator – working with the University and Community College System on how to manage this ? Big initiative – streamlining and modernization within the System ? Adult Dental Bill ? Restore all cuts to immigrants ? Address time limit on general assistance for immigrants ? Interaction between programs – CSSP and PAS Gilda Nardone – ? Continue working with MaineSpark/Adult Maine Promise ? Workforce and college credentials ? Student financial literacy – student debt ? Trades and technology – Careers for women in particular but for all (Totally Trades) ? Family self-sufficiency ? Earned income tax credit ? Strategies to move families out of poverty ? Want to have input in the Maine State Plan – what are opportunities for input?

Gilda asked members to think about how we want to frame this. She stated she wants to give other members that were unable to attend a chance to provide feedback. Some of this will move forward in between. She stated she will reach out to members that were not here today. Her main concern with the other Chairs’ is to have a greater voice with the SWB.

Approval of the 12/3/18 minutes Gilda Nardone asked to table the minutes for the next meeting in March.

WIOA/DOL/SWB Updates Joshua Howe stated most of the seats are filled on the SWB. There will be a new Chair of the SWB. What do we want to see?

Other Gilda stated she wants to work on the definition of this committee (referring to the definition on the website). She wants to continue to have liasons attend their meetings. She will be working on the member list.
She strongly feels some of the target groups should represent around the table.

Meeting Adjourned

Next meeting: March 18, 2019 9:30 – Noon Central Maine Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room 45 Commerce Drive Augusta, Maine

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran

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