Ms.

Eliza Shulman Executive Director Hesed Foundation PO Box 716 Rye Beach, NH 03871 RE: Warmth from the Mill Yard Job Skills Training Dear Ms. Shulman, Warmth from the Mill Yard - a program implemented through the Community Leadership program at the University of New Hampshire, Manchester - is pleased to present this proposal for your review. We look forward creating a partnership with the Hesed Foundation to facilitate the development of job skills in underprivileged refugee and immigrant populations in Manchester New Hampshire. Manchester currently has the highest refugee and immigrant population in the United States, per capita. This specific demographic is experiencing difficulty obtaining job skills that would likely result in better employment and improved over-all quality of life. The objective of Warmth from the Mill Yard is to partner with With Open Minds, a day camp focused on bias reduction, to formulate a six week program to develop job skills training in this underprivileged population. For a little over two years now, Warmth from the Mill Yard has been bringing poverty awareness to New Hampshire residents. The large quantities of warm clothes gathered throughout the clothing drives, has shown that grass roots movements of philanthropy can in fact change the lives of individuals and the community. Based on the success of that operation, Warmth from the Mill Yard looks to expand further into the community with a job skills training program. The job skills training program will offer participants the opportunity to better understand proper work etiquette, resume construction, local networking, interview skills, and other work related experiences. We have shown in the past the success that is achieved when community minded people gather around a cause that is civically guided. The philanthropic mindset that is shared by our participants at Warmth from the Mill Yard is projected throughout our programs. We look forward to expanding these programs even further into the community with the assistance of the Hesed Foundation. We greatly appreciate the Hesed Foundation for taking an interest in our communities as a whole to help develop skills that will transcend our participants lifetimes. Please feel free to contact one of us personally at (603) 6821948 [Lowell Mower] or (603) 203-5515 [Anna Carrigan] with any further requirements or inquiries. We look forward to hearing from you and creating a lasting partnership that will change the lives of our New Hampshire residents. Thank you, Lowell M. Mower and Anna Carrigan Community Leadership Program Coordinators University of New Hampshire at Manchester 500 Commercial Street Manchester NH, 03101

Job Skills Training: Improving the Lives of

Immigrant and Refugee Populations in New Hampshire

Submitted to: The Hesed Foundation, April 28, 2010

Lowell M. Mower and Anna Carrigan Community Leadership Program Coordinators University of New Hampshire at Manchester 500 Commercial Street Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: (603) 682-1948 e-mail: lml54@unh.edu

Project Abstract:
Warmth From the Mill Yard (WFMY), a social service initiative out of the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is seeking to partner with With Open Minds, a multicultural youth program, to bring a job skills training program to immigrant and refugee youth populations. The job skills training program will prepare refugee and immigrant youth populations in Manchester for successful integration into the work force through the development of critical job skills (i.e. resume and interview preparation, workplace etiquette, and communication and work-habit skills). The job skills training program is based around research that has shown a clear link between developed job skills and improved employment. Funding in the amount of $8,526.96 is requested for staffing and implementation of the program.

Statement of Need:
The city of Manchester currently has the largest immigrant and refugee population in New Hampshire. This demographic of residents holds the lowest tier of employment with their average earnings below the poverty line. Most of the immigrant and refugee populations are employed in service based jobs that hold little room for advancement, no benefits packages, and are easily replaceable. The purpose of the job skills training program is too develop work related skills that will give participants the ability to find, obtain, and retain, higher paying jobs to increase the over-all quality of life for themselves and the community.

Program Description:
The goal of this program is to prepare refugee and immigrant youth populations in Manchester, New Hampshire for successful integration into the work force through the development of job skills. This includes but is not limited to; resume building, interview preparation, workplace etiquette, and communication skills. These skills will be gained through participants attendance in workshops and field trips, and made possible through a partnership with the Warmth From the Mill Yard and With Open Minds. The goal of the program is to provide participants with the necessary skills to obtain and retain improved employment. Outcomes include the following: 1) Identifying strengths and interests that can be translated into career paths, 2) Researching career and job possibilities in the community, 3) Developing a resume, 4) Gaining interview experience and communication skills, and 5) Building networking skills within a community of employers. The result will be improved future employment possibilities, higher pay and retention rates, and an overall enhanced standard of living. The community will benefit by removing the unemployed and low-employed from excessive use of government and taxpayer support. Participants, after completing the program, will be more functionally integrated into the surrounding community.

Job Skills Training Program:

New Hampshire, especially Hillsborough County, is experiencing a significant influx of immigrant and refugee populations who are not receiving adequate preparation to integrate themselves into the workforce and the larger community. New Hampshire typically resettles 250 300 refugees annually, and currently New Hampshires foreign born population is growing faster on a percent change basis than the national average. (Gittell, & Lord, 2008). Refugee employment tends to be low-wage, part-time, seasonal, and subject to layoff. The average annual income for a refugee, working fulltime is $19,905, which is below the national poverty line. New Hampshire provides few social supports, training, or opportunities for its residents (Glick Schiller, Boggis, Mesenger, & Dougles, 2009). An effective way to improve the employment of immigrant and refugee populations is to provide them with job skills training. Research demonstrates that job skills training with underprivileged populations results in the employment of the majority of trainees, better wages, benefits, and job retention (Tidewater 2007). Additional research has focused on the need for potential employees to not only possess technical skills related to the job, but to have a strong sense of personal skills as well (i.e. work ethic, communication, and a professional demeanor). A survey conducted by the Welfare Information Network noted that employers want employees to have the following: positive attitude, reliability, conflict management skills, and communication skills (Welfare Information Network 2000). In educating Manchesters immigrant and refugee populations with these desirable job skills, the populations that are positioned to be employed will experience better job opportunities and a sense of community that will transcend generations.

Goals and Objectives:

The participants involved in this project will come from a variety of backgrounds. Typically they will come from lower income families that practice English as a second language. Participants will typically be recruited from the upper levels of high school and will be, on average, between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age. Their involvement within the program will be based around developing the skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment opportunities. This objective will be met with a series of outcomes: 1.) Identifying strengths and interests that can be translated into career paths. This outcome will be achieved through a skill inventory. 2.) Research career and job possibilities in the community which will be facilitated through a career research workshop. 3.) Develop a resume through a resume building workshop. 4.) Gain interview experience, workplace etiquette and communication skills through mock interviews and verbal instruction. 5.) Develop networking and employment opportunities which will be accomplished through a meet and greet session, job fair, and culminating in a real interview. These outcomes will be made possible through the positions of a curriculum development coordinator, a lead instructor, and two assistant instructors, and volunteer professionals from the business sector. Marilyn Kellogg of With Open Minds will also serve as an advisor to the program. An outside evaluator will be hired to ensure unbiased and accurate results from the program.

Timeline:
ACTIVITIES Hire Curriculum Designer Hire lead instructor and assistant instructors Recruit participants for program Hire professionals to discuss their careers TIMING January 2011 January 2011 ADMINISTRATION WFMY staff WFMY staff DELIVERABLES A curriculum for the job skills training. Three staff to implement and run the program Participants to take part in the program Have three professionals to fulfill the career path discussion activity Secure a way to transport participants to and from sessions A venue for participants to practice their learned skill and find job possibilities Clear data about the success of the program

February 2011 February 2011

Instructors, Marilyn Kellogg Lead instructor, Marilynn Kellogg

Obtain Transportation Locate a job fair for participants to attend Evaluation

February 2011

Lead Instructor

February 2011

Lead instructor

April 2011, October 2011

Lead instructor and assistant instructors

Budget:
Budget Item Personnel: Curriculum Development Coordinator Lead Instructor Assistant Instructor (2) Cost $60/hr @ 30 hours
$1,800

Comments

Total

Gifts in-kind

$25/hr @ 36 hours $100 each @ 2

$900

Marilyn Kellogg-Advisor

$150/wk @ 6 weeks $200 per speaking engagement $50/hr @ 30 hours

Each volunteer will receive a $100 gift card / cash for help Will meet every week to improve the function of the program

$200

$900 $600 $1,500

Local business owners Other Outside evaluator

TOTAL Travel/transportation Staff travel Other travel Van Rental Fuel for van TOTAL Equipment Purchase HP mini net-book

$5,900

$80 gas stipend per volunteer X 4 $149/day @ 6 days $30/day @ 6 days

$320 $894 $180 $1,394

$279 This will be used to house all electronic documents and to create presentations for each workshop.

$279

Other T-shirts for staff\participants TOTAL Supplies/materials Office supplies Flash Drives Folders Notebooks Pens\Writing supplies Program supplies Lunch Evaluation supplies Outside evaluator (see above) TOTAL Facilities Rental Library Mezzanine
$610.50

$12.97 each @ 18 shirts

http://www.customink.com $233.46 $512.46

10 @ $12.58 15 pack @ $4.99 15 @ $1.99 $20

$125.80 $74.85 $29.85 $20

$60 per meeting @ 6 meetings

$360

$250 per day @ 6 days

$1,500

TOTAL Printing UNHM Print cards TOTAL FROM GRANT

$1,500

$11 per card @ 10 cards

$110 $8,526.96

TOTAL GIFTS IN-KIND

$1,500.00

TOTAL COST OF OPERATION

$10,026.96

Job Skills Training Program:

1. The total amount that is being requested from the Hesed Foundation is $8,526.96 which will cover the operational costs outside of donations and gift in-kind. 2. In-kind support will come from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester in the total amount of $1,500.00 In-kind support from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester Library mezzanine rental / Meeting area: $250.00/meeting @ 6 meetings = $1,500.00

Evaluation:
In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in getting participants employed, a survey of job placement will be done upon the end of the program and a follow up phone call after six months to evaluate employment success and retention. Printed hard copies of participants resumes will be given out, as well as a flash drive with an electronic copy on it. Survey of participants who have had interviews during and upon exit of the program will be done to evaluate progress. Career profiles will be completed during the program and included in hard copy and electronically on flash drive. Interviews to determine the effectiveness of the program in achieving self confidence in the interview process will be given upon the end of the program as well.
References: Padilla, D. (2003, February). Evolving diversity, the payoffs and challenges of building a diverse workforce. Business NH Magazine, 16-20. Gittell, R, & Lord, T. (2008). Profile of new hampshire's foreign born population. Carsey Institute - University of New Hampshire, (8), 2-8.

Glick Schiller, N, Boggis, J, Mesenger, M, & Dougles, E. (2009). Refugee resettlement in new hampshire: pathways and barriers to building community. Center for the Humanities - University of New Hampshire, 1 46.