Somerville, Massachusetts, December 13, 2024: Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) is partnering with the Somerville Job Creation and Retention Trust (JCRT) to provide training through the Trauma-Informed & Resilient (T&R) Somerville project in Massachusetts. T&R Somerville will provide support for Somerville workforce development, adult education, and social service staff to build a more trauma-informed, healing centered, and resilience-building system for customers, colleagues, and themselves.
“The Job Creation and Retention Trust Board values the vital adult education, workforce development, and social services staff who support Somerville residents,” said Anika Van Eaton, JCRT Managing Trustee. “We are pleased to launch the Trauma-Informed & Resilient (T&R) Somerville Training to help address stress and burnout among nonprofit employees and equip them with more tools to serve their program participants.”
The City of Somerville Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development issued a request for proposals (RFP) for Mental Health, Resilience, Trauma, and Trauma-Informed Approaches Training for Staff of Social Service Providers funded through the JCRT. The COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting illness, death, and job loss, and frequent acts of hate and racial injustice, have resulted in increased rates of trauma and mental health challenges for many, particularly among communities of color who represent the overwhelming majority of participants in Somerville’s adult education and job training programs. These increased rates of trauma and mental health challenges are leading to stress and burnout among nonprofit employees which has resulted in recruitment challenges for their employers and delay or loss of needed public services.
T&R Somerville kicked off in September 2024 with a cohort of 20 individuals from a variety of organizations including: MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, Community Action Agency (CAA) of Somerville, Somerville Homeless Coalition, Per Scholas, Just A Start, Enroot Education, Culture House, Breaktime, and the City of Somerville.
CSW is also bringing in local Somerville consultant Diane Wong, founder and director of the Racial Justice Collaborative to help customize training curriculum and strategies for Somerville serving organizations. Those interested in learning more about the project and the Trauma and Resilience at Work team at CSW can contact Patricia Maguire, pmaguire@skilledwork.org.
About Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW): Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) is a national workforce policy non-profit that partners with government, business, education, and community leaders to cultivate good jobs and the skilled workers to fill them. Since 1991, CSW has catalyzed change in educational and labor market systems, focusing on scalable improvements in worker skills, job quality, and access to opportunity. CSW provides services across five strategy areas: Competencies & Credentials; Improving Practices & Outcomes; Federal, State, & Local Systems Change; Research & Evaluation; and Trauma & Resilience at Work. CSW advances policies and practices which increase economic mobility, particularly for people of color and others historically excluded from success.
About Somerville’s Job Creation and Retention Trust (JCRT): Somerville’s Zoning requires that larger commercial developments pay linkage fees that fund Somerville’s Jobs Creation and Retention Trust. JCRT is a volunteer City of Somerville Board with nine members. The Trust works to create and expand employment opportunities for Somerville residents. The Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development staffs and collaborates with the Trust as part of the City’s commitment to the creation and maintenance of employment opportunities for Somerville residents.
About Racial Justice Collaborative (RJC): RJC is a Black-led organization dedicated to deep race education, dialogue, and bridge-building. Their primary work involves facilitating comprehensive discussions on race, offering workshops, and consulting with cities, communities, nonprofit, and other institutions to foster a deeper understanding of racial issues and unity.
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