Employment Initiative

Executive Summary

Employment is the gateway to sustaining and maintaining a thriving lifestyle. The type and quality of employment determines the lifestyles that can be maintained for individuals in the community. This lifestyle of individuals and families can also dictate the environmental health and wealth of the community as a whole. The Employment Committee has been delegated the responsibility of identifying critical issues relative to high unemployment rates in Service Planning Area 6 (SPA 6). An accurate depiction of the story can be portrayed through relevant data collected from a variety of sources.

Relevant data can help justify the need, which is the cornerstone in developing a plan to effectively deal with the issues. If viewed from the right perspective, data can give historical insight on the progress, barriers and road blocks of the issues. SPA 6 is largely comprised of vulnerable populations with multiple disparities. The residents have been noted as having some of the greatest needs in Los Angeles County as listed in the statistics below. However, it has the least amount of resources available to service these needs. The range of conditions and an issue paints a picture of a complex community-within-a-community.

Our goal is to mobilize key stakeholders and collaborative partners to offer viable solutions that will address the problem created by these needs. The overall well-being of any community is determined by many interrelated factors. For example, individuals with below basic literacy proficiency could be affected by factors such as:

• Having difficulty competing in the job market and being restricted to less than living wage employment, earning less than $300 a week;
• Less likely to have ever used a computer;
• At greater risk of receiving public assistance;
• At greater risk of not completing high school;
• At greater risk of living in substandard housing;
• At greater risk of living 50% below the poverty line;
• At risk of being involved in the criminal justice system;
• At risk of having issues with substance abuse;
• At risk of having issues with child support;
• At risk of becoming homeless;

How do you hire applicants who have never used a computer, or who have difficulty reading a menu or filling out a job application. Less literate individuals coming to the labor force without these basic qualifications are relying on entry-level jobs to learn skills needed to move up the career ladder. Improvements in each area can create a ladder of hope that empowers those most in need to climb and to achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. On the other hand, neglecting the problems associated with even one of these areas can weaken or dismantle the steps on that ladder, stunting the potential of too many of our citizens.

The fact that these issues are so tightly interwoven is also a cause for hope. A meaningful reduction in school dropouts can translate into more rewarding career options and decrease the number who falls into a criminal lifestyle. A literate and skilled workforce is key to the long-term strength of a community.

Steps to Improved Employment

According to The State of Black Los Angeles (United Way/Los Angeles Urban League 2005 Report), Rungs on the Ladder include :

• Education that builds 21st Century skills can lead to more rewarding career options and provide the labor force for sustained economic growth;
• Afford hours allows families to build savings, develop assets and put down roots, creating more stable communities;
• Development of living-wage jobs help families to be self-sufficient, provides a stronger consumer market and the tax base to make public services available;
• An environment promoting healthful behaviors can reduce risk factors for chronic illness, promote longer living and minimize public health costs;
• Equal treatment by the criminal justice systems builds confidence in law enforcement, minimizes community tension and engages residents in making neighborhoods safer;
• Strong civic engagement ensures government represents the will of those it serves and allows residents to work together to better their community;

This concept can be achieved through organized grassroots efforts. Grassroots organizing efforts are happening around the country. Citizens have grown tired of conditions in their communities and have decided collectively to do something about it. Amazing work can be done when communities unite. In order to more effectively deal with the issue of employment, the Employment Committee is recommending that the community mobilize around four major areas:

1. Policy Planning - Policy issues that serve as a barrier to employment;
2. Prevention Planning - Advocate for more education and training opportunities for youth; and
3. Intervention Planning - Advocate for youth and adult vulnerable populations 16 and older with education and skill deficiencies; and
4. Advocating for representation on decision making organizations such as the South Bay Workforce Investment Board which also governs Work Source Center and One Stop Center Activities;

The social service system is moving towards evidence-based practices. Viable solutions are needed to address the problems and decision-making entities need to be held accountable in order to effect a change.

Employment Committee Roster

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