West Alabama Works earns $200,000 grant from Carnegie Corp.
West AlabamaWorks! has earned a $200,000 grant to support its mission of preparing students for the workforce and matching job seekers with employers.
The grant, awarded by the Carnegie Corp. of New York, recognizes West AlabamaWorks! as one of 10 "exemplars in education" in the United States.
More: The WOW Factor: West Alabama students flock to career expo
This award is a part of the corporation's new philanthropic initiative, Profiles in Collective Leadership, which provides grants for nonpartisan collaborations that serve as education and economic bridges in urban, suburban and rural areas the across the country, according to a news release.
The 10 recognized partnerships in eight states will act as exemplars, sharing what they have learned with each other and with the public, the release states.
Donny Jones, executive director of West AlabamaWorks! and the chief operating officer of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, announced the award in a Tuesday news conference at the Chamber of Commerce office in downtown Tuscaloosa.
Jones said that he was "proud" and "humbled" to be recognized amongst the 9 other organizations.
"This is going to be an opportunity to show the country what we are doing to make a difference in the lives of our students, for our business community and for the community," said Jones at the news conference.
Jones said the organization plans to use the grant to expand programs such as: WOW, WOW 2.0, Ignite, Virtual WOW and the organization's Regional Signing Day. The WOW events are career expos where students can learn more about jobs available in West Alabama, the Ignite program connects local high school students with potential employers and the Regional Signing Day is a celebration for seniors who are leaving high school with sold post-graduation employment plans.
Jones said the organization also plans to utilize more media and interactive videos in their programs, as well as increase student engagement and engagement from industry partners.
"Being selected for Profiles in Collective Leadership is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the students, educators and in our business community. The funding will allow West AlabamaWorks! to continue connecting the education system to our workforce through programs like the Educator Workforce Academy and K-12 Career Pathways. It is an honor to receive national recognition for our efforts in West Alabama," said Jones in the news release.
In addition to the $200,000 grant, winners will receive opportunities to document and share their story nationally and participate in a community of practice committed to highlighting and replicating these approaches and solutions.
West AlabamaWorks! trains and matches highly skilled job seekers with employers in nine primarily rural counties in West Alabama. Created through a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Region 3 Workforce Development Council in 2014, the coalition has grown to include more than 250 representatives from business and industry, K–12 school districts, higher education institutions, nonprofits, service providers, and state and local government.
The organization also partners to provide opportunities for students beginning in pre-K through high school graduation.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Carnegie Corp. honors West Alabama Works education award
