Consortia Partnerships

Information by State  Print version

Dress for Success Worldwide

Dress for Success Worldwide is a nonprofit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire. In addition to clothing, the organization runs employment retention programs, and provides ongoing support to enhance self-sufficiency and build careers. Professional women have an opportunity to give back to their respective communities through Dress for Success. The organization is partnering with the Neighborhood Networks Initiative to offer residents the opportunity and resources needed to launch their careers. Through this partnership, Dress for Success staff will provide professional clothing for residents preparing for interviews and pilot a mentorship program to offer residents more in-depth career coaching.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency created by Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system. The FDIC believes that asset building and self-sufficiency begin with a general knowledge of the U.S. financial system. In 2001, the FDIC began The Money Smart Program, a national financial education campaign designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream develop financial skills and positive banking relationships. The FDIC and Neighborhood Networks will work together to provide a high-quality financial education program aimed at helping residents build their money management abilities. Conducted at Neighborhood Networks centers, the self-paced program includes an FDIC instructor-led version for adults, and an instructor-led version for young adults.

Goodwill Industries of New Mexico

Goodwill Industries of New Mexico has been devoted to a mission of providing skill development and work opportunities for people with barriers to employment. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico is partnering with Neighborhood Networks to provide assistance in the areas of education, and career and technology training. Goodwill Industries will provide residents with access to basic computer training, financial literacy, and train-the-trainer workshops. Goodwill Industries will also implement a well-designed curriculum that includes employment training, individual ability assessments, interviewing skills, and resume building.

KickApps

KickApps is a well-respected and established social media technology firm that provides small business, Web publishers, and nonprofit organizations with all the applications they need to create engaging Web sites, online communities, viral widgets, Flash applications, and online video. KickApps will collaborate with Neighborhood Networks to pilot a community platform site program for a Neighborhood Networks consortium. KickApps will provide its standard hosted community platform service, which includes software updates, Web page creation tools, upfront training, and technical support. The online site will give a Neighborhood Networks consortium the ability to increase membership and member participation, provide archived recordings of meetings and events, and offer residents access to blogging and photo-, video-, and audio-sharing capabilities. This pilot program will bring Neighborhood Networks capacity building to the next level.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI)

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. promotes success for women in the trades through education, leadership, and mentorship. Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is partnering with Neighborhood Networks consortia to provide workforce development training for male and female adult residents. The organization will use its business involvement program to assist Neighborhood Networks consortia with workforce development specifically related to trades. Selected adults will be able to learn a trade in a classroom setting provided by OTI through its Pathways to Success program, which not only educates adults about trade careers, but also includes assistance with preliminary aspects of a job search from the application process to apprenticeships.

U.S. Census Bureau

As the leading source of data about the nation's people and economy, the U.S. Census Bureau helps the government determine funding investments and the distribution of services such as transportation, public health, and education throughout various communities. Each decade, to increase the response rate to its questionnaire, the U.S Census Bureau collaborates with community organizations that can offer cultural insight into the communities they survey. For these partnerships, the U.S. Census Bureau provides numerous community groups with materials, training, and 2010 Census job opportunities for their community members. The U.S. Census Bureau will provide Neighborhood Networks consortia with the training, materials, and assistance needed to help residents take advantage of 2010 Census employment opportunities. The use of the Neighborhood Networks centers as testing sites will provide the centers with more exposure and increase usage by the residents.