“We’ve also learned in building a network that there has to be a grassroots level to it. We have to listen to what organizations need and help support them in ways that they welcome, rather than just saying what we think needs to happen,” Pashman says.
Unique perspectives, whether it’s diverse partners or individuals within a group, are important. Also, when talking about youth, for instance, youth needs to be at the table.
“We try and have the right mix, so we can build consensus that people buy into, because they have been part of the conversation and because we have every voice represented,” she says.
It helps that Partner4Work has a budget of more than $18 million, but only 25 employees. Because it gets government money, its administration cannot be bloated.
“People see that we’re not just trying to build an empire,” Pashman says. “We’re trying to actually put the money out in the community.”
Attention employers, job seekers
With her bird’s eye view of workforce development, Pashman has advice for both employers and job seekers.
She says employers should take advantage of Partner4Work’s resources, whether that’s help subsidizing the first six months of someone’s wages, a database of 20,000 to 30,000 individuals who are looking for work or help raising money for a new initiative.
Companies also need to be in the game.
“If they want the workforce to be what they want it to be and they need the talent available when they need it, they have to open their doors to interns in the summer. They have to engage civically around making sure that our educational institutions and programs are where they want them to be,” Pashman says. “They have to put some time in to the conversation in order to make sure it meets their needs.
“It’s not just going to happen. We really need business at the table, supporting the direction of this work.”
At the same time, because of Pittsburgh’s low unemployment rate, a lot of people still looking for work are less employable, she says. They may be older. They may not have looked for a job recently. They may need to refresh their skills, such as becoming better versed in technology.
These people must take time to invest in themselves. It may not be a quick fix, but it will be worth it for their long-term careers, Pashman says.
