Boston's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) published its Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report "Advancing the Lives of Boston's Working Families" earlier today, according to The City Of Boston official Website. It outlines its commitment to enhancing residents' economic participation via equal access to education, financial literacy resources, skills and job training programs, and career pipelines.
The report elaborates on OWD activities from July 2021 to June 2022, during which, led by the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, it distributed over $10 million to numerous community-based organizations. Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Worker Empowerment, underscored the significance of partnerships in delivering these endeavors, with collaboration from staff, local organizations, and program participants.
OWD funding, which supports diverse services for Boston residents, includes major contributions from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT). The Trust redistributes payments made by large-scale commercial construction companies to facilitate job linkages. The NJT awarded $2.7 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to 30 community-based organizations, providing job training, education, and support services to 1,300 low and middle-income residents. The African Bridge Network is one such beneficiary of funds from the NJT.
Emmanuel Owusu, head of the African Bridge Network, thanked the City of Boston for their assistance, which played a significant role in creating career pathways for immigrants and refugees holding healthcare degrees. He expressed that NJT's commitment contributed towards building an inclusive and prosperous city for all.
In line with its mission, OWD has worked toward fostering economic independence and mobility for Boston's working families. During Fiscal Year 2022, in association with Boston Public Schools (BPS), the City of Boston launched a children's savings account (CSA) program, Boston Saves, helping families save for their child's future. A January 2022 promotional offer saw over 1,300 BPS families earning a total of $32,825 toward their children’s future.
The report also highlights the Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC), which aids low-to-moderate income residents by providing free tax preparation services, ensuring maximum refunds. BTHC assisted 10,710 taxpayers via in-person and virtual services in 2022, repatriating a total of $15,469,772 in tax refunds.
OWD's annual report comes amidst their first significant update as a department in the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, established in September 2022 by Mayor Michelle Wu. The Cabinet strives to uplift the living conditions of all Bostonians by integrating worker empowerment policies and programs, thereby remolding the city's approach to addressing workforce issues.
