"For America’s lowest-skilled workers, the biggest challenge may not be getting a job—it may be keeping it."
Cincinnati Works has stepped into the gap in Ohio, helping the chronically unemployed obtain—and retain—jobs. Since their founding in 1996, the organization has helped 3,000 low-skilled job seekers find steady employment, and, despite the high national unemployment rate, Cincinnati Works has achieved a retention rate of 80 percent. The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research recognized Cincinnati Works’ outstanding achievements in 2009 with a Social Entrepreneurship Award.
The Cincinnati Works event included a keynote address from Maureen Conway, director of economic opportunity programs and director of workforce strategies at the Aspen Institute. During her presentation, Ms. Conway explained the model behind the success of Cincinnati Works.
This event featured a visit to the Cincinnati Works headquarters, where donors met with the co-founders, David and Liane Phillips. David is one of the four recipients of the 2011 Great Living Cincinnatians Award. His wife, Liane is the author of Why Don’t They Just Get a Job?
Peggy Zink, executive director of Cincinnati Works, led a special tour of the facilities where guests met with students and faculty. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in two classes and hear from the job placement and mentoring teams who continue to guide students through job retention and advancement long after they have left the classrooms. Following the tour, Ms. Zink also introduced employers, community leaders, and other funders from private foundations, all of whom shared their perspective on how and why Cincinnati Works “works” for individuals and for the community.
Schedule of Events:
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Reception and dinner hosted by Dan and Kellie Peters at the Kenwood Country Club
- 5:30 p.m - Reception
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6:30 p.m. - Dinner
- Keynote speaker: Maureen Conway, director of economic opportunity programs and director of workforce strategies at the Aspen Institute
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
- 7:45 a.m. - Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
- 8:45 a.m. - Shuttle from Hyatt Hotel to Cincinnati Works Headquarters
- 9:00 a.m. - Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Dave and Lianne Phillips, co-founders, Cincinnati Works
- 9:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Site and Classrooms Visits
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12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch Panel Discussion: Voices from the Community
- Panelists: Ross Meyer, executive director, Greater Cincinnati Workforce Network; Robert C. Reifsnyder, president, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Shiloh Turner, vice president for community investment, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
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1:30 - 3:00 p.m. - Why Cincinnati Works?
- Dave and Lianne Phillips, co-founders, Cincinnati Works and Peggy Zink, executive director, Cincinnati Works
Accommodations:
Hyatt Regency Cincinnati
151 W. Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 354-4079
Philanthropy Roundtable meetings are solicitation-free events for qualified donors. Qualified donors include individual donors, private foundation trustees and staff, and corporate giving officers who make at least $50,000 in charitable donations a year. There is no fee to attend any of these events.
For more information about the content of this program, please contact Elizabeth Isele, director of economic opportunity programs at (202) 600-7871 or eisele@philanthropyroundtable.org.
