AFA and The Skills Initiative make Commitment to Action as part of Clinton Global Initiative

Research has found that more than 40% of participants in federally funded workforce development programs earn less than $25,000 annually after completing these training programs. These low-wage jobs can be difficult to escape with most workers remaining trapped in them five years later. At the same time, employers struggle with turnover rates and finding qualified and reliable employees. In Philadelphia, The Skills Initiative offers an innovative solution and effective delivery model that benefits both employers and employees.

“The Skills Initiative was created to connect local talent to the enormous opportunity at major Philadelphia employers. With a commitment to job quality that benefits both the employer and participants, we provide the training talented people need to be exceptional at their jobs and we create pipelines to family-sustaining careers. By following our model, communities across the country can better leverage public and private workforce investments, increase access to high-quality jobs, and ultimately expand economic opportunity in their communities. We are thrilled to partner with Accelerator for America to share what we have learned with others,” said Cait Garozzo, Executive Director of The Skills Initiative.

The Skills Initiative has demonstrated the ability to produce real economic mobility outcomes: Since 2011, The Skills Initiative has graduated 1,549 participants. Ninety-three percent of graduates have secured employment that pays an average of $12,000 more in annual wages than their previous role, and 83 percent have remained employed after one year, nearly double the retention rate of the typical workforce program. Thirty-four percent of graduates earn a promotion and wage increase within the first year of employment.

Michael Nguyen, a graduate of The Skills Initiative, described himself as “lost, stuck, living paycheck to paycheck” before he applied for a program at The Skills Initiative that prepares participants to become research technicians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“This program has taught me not just the fundamental science to thrive but to put myself out there, gain skills, make connections, be professional, and most importantly, to believe in myself,” Nguyen said, who was later promoted to acting lab manager at the hospital.

This new partnership aligns with AFA’s existing effort to tackle workforce challenges and create pathways for high quality jobs – those that allow employees to support their families and provide opportunities for economic mobility. Through targeted place-based initiatives, AFA works with local leaders and practitioners to connect underserved communities with job training, apprenticeships and career opportunities, while also working to remove barriers like the lack of childcare and transportation, which impede people’s ability to learn and work.

“Accelerator for America is emerging as one of our nation’s most essential conveners by bringing together local leaders to find solutions that create lasting change. That’s why I was honored to join their Accelerator Advisory Council and work with mayors nationwide to help identify and scale smart investments and policy decisions that will improve all of our communities. The Skills Initiative’s workforce program that engages with businesses to really understand their workforce needs – and design recruitment and training programs to meet those needs – is a prime example of the kind of innovative solution that should be scaled and replicated in more places,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, AFA Advisory Council member.

About Accelerator for America

Accelerator for America (AFA) is built around the idea that America’s local communities – from one-stoplight towns to our biggest cities – have the power to create national change from the ground up, making all people’s lives better. Since its founding, AFA has supported 200 localities, building connections between Mayors and other local leaders, providing hands-on technical assistance and capacity building to under-resourced local governments, and serving as a bridge between the doers and the thinkers to help solve some of our country’s greatest challenges with local solutions. Follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About The Skills Initiative

Since 2011, The Skills Initiative has solidified its role as one of the highest-performing workforce intermediaries in the country by building customized talent solutions that bridge the divide between Philadelphians seeking opportunity and employers seeking talent. The Skills Initiative runs year-round, cohort-based, jobs-driven training models that harness the hiring power of their area’s major employers while cultivating their neighbors’ talent.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Through CGI’s unique model, more than 10,000 organizations have launched more than 4,000 Commitments to Action – new, specific, and measurable projects and programs – that are making a difference in the lives of more than 500 million people in 180 countries.