Q&A
Types of job opportunities and career paths offered through HRA programs
1:08:57
·
4 min
Council Member Ayala expresses concerns about the types of employment opportunities offered through HRA programs, particularly in the Jobs Plus program.
She emphasizes the need for better career paths and opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency, rather than just minimum wage jobs. Scott French acknowledges these concerns and highlights efforts to connect people to good jobs with career paths.
- Ayala calls for more diverse job offerings, including middle-class jobs and city jobs
- She suggests partnerships with hospitals and other organizations for specialized training
- French agrees with the goal of finding good jobs with career paths and mentions the PINK program's relationships with local unions
Diana I. Ayala
1:08:57
And so I wonder if there's been any any thought to kind of ramping up a little bit of what it is that they're offering at the jobs plus program so that we're offering skills an opportunity to develop those skills in a way that is realistic, but also allows folks an entry into middle class jobs.
1:09:18
Right?
1:09:19
Connecting them to city jobs.
1:09:21
We have an, you know, an abundance of of jobs that are available.
1:09:25
I mean, are we connecting folks?
1:09:27
These are the same agencies.
1:09:28
Right?
1:09:28
Like, are we connecting folks to those job opportunities?
1:09:31
Are we training them?
1:09:33
In East Harlem, we had a a program post drive And and at some point, they worked with one of our nonprofit's Union Settlement Association, and they created this partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital.
1:09:43
And so Mount Sinai Hospital will say, well, we need from phlebotomists, and so they would train the phlebotomists, and then Mount Sinai will hire them.
1:09:51
Those type of partnerships are more in line with what I think.
1:09:54
Right?
1:09:55
These opportunities should look like.
1:09:56
It's not just it's not so much as, you know, it isn't just about getting somebody a job.
1:10:01
Right?
1:10:02
But we're looking for self sufficiency.
1:10:04
Right?
1:10:04
We're looking to ensure that people are able to stay in in in the city that are able to pay rent and still be able to put food on the table.
1:10:12
And that's very difficult when you're making, you know, minimum wage.
1:10:17
And so I would love to see some some, you know, diversity there in terms of the types of jobs that are offered in the tops the types of training opportunities as well.
1:10:29
Because I think that you know, you have a lot of entrepreneurs, people that, you know, working from home, baking cakes, that they could be selling, that they could be working, you know, you could be working with EDC to try to identify low cost space so that they can begin their small businesses.
1:10:47
We have organizations.
1:10:48
So I think that there has to be a you know, there there are way I agree that there were too many contracts, and it makes it very difficult to do an added assessment.
1:10:57
Even for me, I'm, like, still confused about all of this because there's just so much to look at.
1:11:03
It's distracting.
1:11:05
But I think when you start to consolidate, it should help alleviate some of that because then those partnerships a little bit, you know, they're stronger.
1:11:12
Yep.
1:11:12
And we know where they exist and where those opportunities exist.
1:11:15
But I I just you know, one of the points of contention that I have is really the type of jobs that we are, you know, prioritizing for black and brown folks.
1:11:25
Right?
1:11:25
We we you know, there's no shame in any job, but we also have skill sets, right, that allow us an opportunity to work work, you know, in in spaces where we haven't been allowed or don't know how to get into.
1:11:41
Mhmm.
1:11:42
And so it's it's important that those opportunities are also a part of the equation.
1:11:47
And maybe the you know, that should be first.
1:11:49
Sorry.
1:11:49
They should have first steps to those jobs.
1:11:51
At least, you know, not saying that you're mandated to give anybody a, you know, job, but they should at least have first steps at applying for and being considered.
1:12:01
Should they have the qualifications?
1:12:03
And if they don't, maybe that's the pipeline, right, that we need to to create is a, you know, pipeline to those jobs so that we're creating that self sufficiency that we're looking for.
Scott French
1:12:13
Right.
1:12:13
And we definitely agree.
1:12:14
I just wanna say, I think, with everything you say and that really doesn't form all that we're doing, and it is about finding good jobs and connecting people to good jobs that also have career paths to them.
1:12:25
Right?
1:12:26
Just like all of us, we we have jobs, and then we look to see what might be next, and we wanna make sure, you're right, individuals on cash assistance have the same access to those jobs.
1:12:34
Right?
1:12:34
They have same goals, same interests, same, you know, futures that they wanna look at.
1:12:38
So we are very much focused on that, which I think we're doing through the PINK program, right, where we've created a lot of relationships with local unions.
1:12:47
Right, which is one pathway also into really good jobs, union jobs, you know, other types of things, as well as looking at ways in which we can retain people and recruit people into, you know, city jobs.
1:13:00
I know HRA, as part of Jobs NYC and just are with the work of business link.
1:13:05
We are constantly reaching out to cash assistance clients and others about vacancies that we have, right, working in benefits, in my agency as well as other agencies.
1:13:16
So we agree with you.
1:13:17
Very happy to also, you know, take any thoughts and recommendations you have, but from a a perspective of what we think the goal needs to be, where you're definitely aligned as to where we need to be going.
