The Marks JCH recently secured a multi-year investment from NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development to rapidly grow youth and young adult career development opportunities. This new funding will allow us to scale our successful workforce initiatives — a cornerstone of our work for highly-barriered immigrant populations — and expand our early career development opportunities. Our innovative strategy combines public investments in workforce development, training for in-demand healthcare jobs, and partnership with a major healthcare union that represents 250,000+ healthcare workers in and around NYC.
Train & Earn will address the pressing needs of youth aged 16-24 in NYC. Equipping these individuals with skills, qualifications, and experience (through mentorship and job shadowing) to secure employment in the high-demand healthcare sector will enhance their prospects for long-term career success and economic stability. The Marks JCH will provide occupational training leading to coveted credentials in the healthcare sector, such as: Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Medical Assistant, re Phlebotomy and EKG Technician, and related fields. These careers are critical entryways to long-term healthcare careers, and they offer competitive wages and opportunities for advancement.
Our innovative approach includes a new partnership with 1199SEIU, a major healthcare union representing 250,000+ workers in the NYC region. Through this partnership, our young adult trainees will gain hands-on (paid) experience in real-world settings under the mentorship of experienced professionals, bridging classroom learning with practical application and significantly enhancing job readiness.
The Marks JCH is a citywide leader in workforce development — job training, placement, and retention services — for some of NYC’s most vulnerable populations. We are a go-to workforce development resource for low-income Russian-speaking immigrants. Over the last 15 years, the Marks JCH has trained 4,500+ people for new jobs; provided ESL to 20,000+ clients, and placed 9,000+ clients in jobs. We have decades of experience with job training, placement, and retention. Through its Summer Youth Employment Program and other initiatives, the Marks JCH has introduced approximately 5,000 youth to the world of work.