WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS + TECHNOLOGY

JAMON ALEXANDERDirector of Workforce Development

“Flipping the Script on Soft Skills”

Provide a culture of opportunity for people to create social and economic progress in

their lives and community.

ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Medical Billing (CRCS)Medical Coding (CPC)Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

WMCAT Students

● Adults living with under/unemployment

● 94% women● 66% earned less than $15k

(2017)● Head of household

“For the first time in my life, I have a choice in what I want to do.”

AmberPharmacy Technician

ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

● On-site Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Case Manager

● On-site mental and behavioral health clinician

● Support with barriers to workforce (housing, transportation, childcare, etc).

“What will I say when they ask why they should choose me? What do I have to offer?

HeatherMedical Coding

ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Leadership by Design● Community Curation● Authentic Leadership● Power skills● Social Capital

“I can’t show you the real me. If I did, you would never have let me in the program”

LakeshaMedical Coding

ADULT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

BurningQuestions?

LEADERSHIP BY DESIGNReimagined personal and professional development integrated into career training.

Students explore the power of their stories—and how those experiences form advantages, attributes, mindsets and skills that can be assets in the workplace.

Employers are engaged throughout the process to build social capital and for a more equitable recruiting and on-boarding experience.

Community Curation

DISC Profile

Culture-building Activities

Empathy Listening

Rules of Engagement

30:30 Partners

Authentic Self

Emotional Intelligence

Vulnerability

Growth + Agile mindset

Reframing Lived Experience

ID core values

COMMUNITY

HOMEWORK

AUTHENTIC SELF

Power Skills

Resume Development

Interview Prep + Practice

Managing Time

Setting SMART GOALS

Healthy Conflict

Financial Health

Social Capital

Mix + Mingle

Employer Engagement

Alumni Engagement

Bonding Within #WMFAM

TWO

GENERATION

APPROACH

Created a two-gen

evaluation report

Organizationally we use

HCD to constantly reflect

to revise and refine what

we are doing so we can

best serve every student

that walks through our

doors.

MEASURMENT

Two-generation programming supports WMCAT’s

mission to provide a culture of opportunity for

people to make social and economic progress in

their lives and community.

JAMON ALEXANDERDirector of Workforce Development

jamon.alexander@wmcat.orgwww.wmcat.org

WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS + TECHNOLOGY