Portland Workforce Alliance
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : v*******r@p***********************e.o*g
Mission Statement
The nonprofit PWA sees meaningful access to career development as a matter of social and economic justice, and young people as the key to our region’s long-term economic prosperity and quality of life. PWA works with local employers and educators to create experiences that help high school students develop their career aspirations, practice career skills, connect with industry professionals and work toward their college-and-career goals. We welcome all students, with extra outreach to higher-poverty and marginalized communities. PWA’s mission is to build enduring partnerships that improve Oregon’s graduation rate; support career readiness; create a strong and inclusive workforce; and help regional employers develop their pipeline of talent.
About This Cause
PWA offers coaching, mentoring, skills development and experiential career learning for Portland-area high school students, with a focus on access and opportunities for underrepresented students from under-resourced schools. We introduce students to career and postsecondary pathways, connect them with professionals to provide career coaching, and offer students hands-on experiences at Oregon employers. Through these experiences, students develop skills, confidence, early networks, college-and-career goals and essential employability skills. Our programming falls into three categories: 1) career mentor programs, 2) career exploration and skills development, and 3) the NW Youth Careers Expo. Career mentor programs: We provide meaningful and sustained college-and-career mentoring for 75-80 high school students annually through four existing career mentoring programs. Each program involves a small cohort of students, designed to foster a sense of community among the students as they work with volunteer mentors/coaches and gain confidence and career skills. These programs have multiple sessions and include: -- PWA Youth Impact Council -- Future of Nursing Mentor Program -- Creative Careers Mentor Program -- Summer Career Academy Career exploration and skills development: We provide career-exploration opportunities and career skills development for 1,500 students annually. Experiences include: --- PWA Career Days (experiential hands-on learning and career skills development at local employers) --- On-Campus Support (career skills development, including resumes, interviewing and financial literacy) --- One-on-one mentoring, job shadows, informational interviews. NW Youth Careers Expo: This major community endeavor draws students from Oregon and SW Washington. More than 5,000 students and educators from 70+ high schools attend the Expo, and our 200+ exhibitors include colleges, training centers and employers who offer mock interviews, hands-on learning and career support. It catalyzes partnerships and helps fuel and fund our year-round work. Our programs align with national best practices around youth mentorship and workforce development, and they reflect what we’ve developed in partnership with educators and employers over the past 19+ years. We emphasize experiential learning; we work with employers to develop inclusive learning environments; we seek out and support volunteers from diverse backgrounds; we create opportunities for students to practice essential life/employability skills; we center youth voice in program development; we work with educators to reduce barriers around transportation, food, finances and comfort level; and we incorporate program evaluations to measure effectiveness and improvement areas. These practices have resulted in positive youth outcomes regarding participation, retention, advancement to more career learning, and students’ self-reported positive impact on their career goals, skills, career preparation, knowledge of career options, confidence, and sense of community.