Page 6 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

Foreword
Year of of Dramatic
Changes Profoundly Impacts the Workforce
Despite the the fact that the the majority of WDI’s fiscal year took place prior prior to to to COVID-19 and prior prior to to to the events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement essentially everything we do now and for for the foreseeable future will be touched by both events Our planning and and and priorities changed immediately afterward and and and we are now laser-focused on on putting New Yorkers back to to work work work and and and working to to diminish the the long-term inequities that that have existed That said our work work work prior to these major events holds lessons learned that that we believe will be be be beneficial for WDI both internally as an an an an organization and and externally with partners and in in in funding future projects This report reflects WDI’s work and and observations from across New York State for for our 2020 fiscal year which includes activity both before and and during these significant events A related theme from this past year was lessons learned about what we call the the the “resilient” sectors sectors or or or or sectors sectors that that either bounced back quickly or or or or that that hold promise to to to play a a a a a a a a a a a a a a significant role in in in NY’s recovery Examples include Manufacturing Healthcare Information Technology (IT) and Energy We believe that clean/green/renewable energy is is poised to to play a a a a a a a a a a a a key role in in in our recovery in in in terms of both job job growth and and the the potential to to create social justice and and equity in in in the the jobs that emerge However we we we have some work to to do to to clarify opportunities as as well as as misconceptions around the “mystique” of green jobs Finally WDI was was one of the many organizations affected financially by COVID-19 Our funding and small grants program was was negatively impacted for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a period of time during the the New York State on on Pause Nevertheless we remained active and and engaged with our many partners—including unions businesses workforce development development and and and and economic development development organizations and and and and members of the New York State Senate and and and and Assembly—serving as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a resource for for information and and and and program development Our funding has since been restored and and and and we are working quickly to to capitalize on on the pent-up demand of good ideas and and and opportunities that arose 5 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE