JANUARY 2019
Federal employees file for unemployment as government shutdown becomes longest in history
January 12, 2019
The Washington Examiner//Sean Higgins
Tiffany Browne, spokesperson for D.C. Department of Employment Services, which is home to an estimated 102,000 workers from agencies that haven't been paid, said the total unemployment claims from them had reached more than 4,800. The department had reported the figure at just 379 on Dec. 28, the first full week of the shutdown.
Unemployment Claims From the Shutdown Are Skyrocketing
January 11, 2019
The Washingtonian//Benjamin Wofford
As the shutdown approaches its fourth week, regional economists have pointed to the skyrocketing number of Washington area residents who are applying for unemployment benefits. In the past week, budget specialists in the DC government reported growing numbers of federal workers claiming unemployment benefits: First 300, then 700, then 1,700. It’s now estimated at 5,431, including 4,429 federal workers and an estimated 1,002 federal contractors. The number already equals 15 percent of the typical benefits caseload in a single year, according to figures provided by the Department of Employment Services, where District employees have been working overtime to manage the deluge of incoming calls and applications.
Federal Employees Are Filing Unemployment Claims To Get Through The Shutdown
January 10, 2019
The Huffington Post//Dave Jamison
The District of Columbia, which has a disproportionate share of federal workers compared with states, had seen 3,745 federal workers and an estimated 822 federal contractors apply for benefits due to the shutdown as of Tuesday night, the D.C. Department of Employment Services told HuffPost. The agency is dealing with the influx of cases by having staff work extended hours.
New Year, New Committees
January 10, 2019
The Washington City Paper//Mitch Ryals
As D.C. councilmembers close the first legislative meeting of 2019, they do so with a slightly different committee configuration.
At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman
Committee: Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Notable agencies: Department of Human Resources, Department of Employment Services, Office of Employee Appeals, Office of Risk Management, Workforce Investment Council
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Pushes for Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Contract Workers
January 8, 2019
Washington City Paper//Mitch Ryals
Logan is among the more than 2,000 District residents who've applied for unemployment benefits as a result of the federal government shutdown. (D.C.'s Department of Employment Services is tracking the number of applicants.)
D.C. Council approves ‘LOVE’ Act to allow marriages to continue during the shutdown
January 8, 2019
The Washington Post//Fenit Nirappil
The District government also has been picking up trash from the Mall and ramping up staffing at the Department of Employment Services to process unemployment claims as a result of the shutdown.
As Government Shutdown Continues, Workers’ Worries—and Bills—Grow
January 1, 2019
The Wall Street Journal//Andrew Duehren
D.C. Department of Employment Services, which processes unemployment claims in Washington, has extended its operating hours because of the ...
DECEMBER
D.C. to collect trash on federal properties during the government shutdown
December 30, 2018
The Washington Times//Julia Airey
D.C. Department of Employment Services is “working overtime” to meet what two staffers and a mayoral spokeswoman said there has already been an “uptick” in insurance claims.
Federal employees, contractors seek assistance as shutdown enters Day 7
December 28, 2018
WUSA9//John Henry
In the District, the Department of Employment Services has encouraged furloughed government workers and contractors to visit dcnetworks.org to file for unemployment compensation benefits.
D.C. Mayor Bowser urges Trump to end the partial government shutdown
December 27, 2018
The Washington Post//Fenit Nirappil
The District’s Department of Employment Services, which administers unemployment benefits for city residents, expects claims to surge next week after pending paychecks have been received. City officials say they received an extra 5,000 unemployment claims during the last extended government shutdown.
South Fulton administrator named to metro leadership post
December 10, 2018
Atlanta Journals Constitution//Pamela Miller
On Wednesday, Nov. 28 City of South Fulton City Manager Odie Donald II was elected as treasurer of the Young Government Leaders Atlanta Chapter 2019 Executive Leadership Board, according to a press release.
… Prior to his role as City Manager for the City of South Fulton, he was the Director for the Washington, DC Department of Employment Services. He also worked as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Director for the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Executive Director of the DC Workforce Investment Council.
Trans woman elected Stein Club president
December 4, 2018
The Washington Blade//Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Ward 3 community activist Monika Nemeth, who became the first out transgender person to win election to a seat on the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission in the city’s Nov. 6 election, won the election on Monday night as president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club.
… Strang is a former Stein Club board member. She works as a Worker’s Compensation Claims Examiner for D.C. Department of Employment Services.
NOVEMBER
Georgetown Launches Inmate Re-Entry and Education Program
November 30, 2018
The Hoya//Alexandra Bowman
The program is a collaboration between the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown College, the Georgetown Prisons and Justice Initiative, Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services, the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, and D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development.
In Washington DC, Employers Face New Training, Notice, And Reporting Obligations
November 30, 2018
JD Supra//Fox Rothschild LLP
Employers in Washington DC now face a comprehensive set of new training, notice, and reporting obligations ranging from wage and hour matters to sexual harassment issues.
…. Additionally, employers of tipped employees are required to offer their employees the opportunity for in-person or online training at least once annually. By Dec. 31 of each year, employers of tipped employees must certify to the District’s Department of Employment Services that the training requirements have been fulfilled.
New Employment Requirements for All D.C. Employers on the Horizon, Including Extensive Obligations for Employers of Tipped Workers
November 16, 2018
JD Supra//Epstein Becker & Green
In addition, employers of tipped workers must use a third-party payroll provider by January 1, 2020. The third-party payroll provider is required to report certain wage data, including an employer’s tip-out policy, on a quarterly basis to the Department of Employment Services (“DOES”); employers are required to do this directly prior to January 1, 2020.
Amazon's HQ2 is officially coming. What's it going to do to your rent? Your home value?
November 13, 2018
WUSA9//Jordan Fischer
Housing prices aren’t likely to double in DC – partly because, again, it’s already so expensive to live in the area. And the original 50,000 jobs HQ2 promised have since been halved to 25,000. That’s still enough for every city in the country to compete for them, but it’s less than the roughly 34,000 jobs the DC Metro added between March 2017 and March 2018, according to stats released by the DC Department of Employment Services.
Calling all DMV veterans: There's a job fair coming just for you
November 9, 2018
Connecting Vets//Kaylah Jackson
The nation’s capital is honoring veterans this year with a job fair designed just for the military community.
On Thursday, November 15, from 10 am to 2 pm, veterans are invited to the second annual D.C. Veterans Appreciation Employment Expo at D.C. National Guard Armory.
Ford to Test Self-Driving Cars In DC
November 2, 2018
The Hoya//Maxwell Sheremeta
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced a partnership with Ford Motor Company to begin testing “driverless” autonomous vehicles in Washington, D.C., early next year.
The testing will begin in D.C.’s Ward 5 and will gradually expand to encompass the entire city, according to an Oct. 22 news release. Ford plans to introduce commercial services in 2021.
OCTOBER
Martha’s Table Celebrates New Location and New D.C. Dedication
October 29, 2018
Afro American//Special to the Afro
Martha’s table will host their October Market from 4-6 p.m. today at the Commons, in honor of the organization's new address and expanding commitment to D.C.
The event will include events for all ages including: no-cost pop-up market to shop for fresh fruits, veggies, and shelf stable pantry items; Workforce on Wheels, where the DC Department of Employment Services will be on-site to assist with job applications; Fruity Tales & Drumming Circle, an interactive experience for kids and caregivers alike; and family resources, provided by Community of Hope and Martha’s Table.
Can “infrastructure academies” solve our most pressing workforce challenges?
October 11, 2018
Brookings Institute// Joseph Kane and Lara Fishbane
For example, last March, Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the D.C. Infrastructure Academy (DCIA) as part of a new workforce development effort between the city and several public and private partners, including Pepco, Washington Gas, D.C. Water, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Located in the city’s historically disadvantaged Ward 8, the DCIA fills what was once a vacant elementary school, and provides a space for training and education overseen by the Department of Employment Services.
17 Things Amazing Bosses Do Every Day
October 11, 2018
Reader’s Digest//Joe McKinley
Unique Morris-Hughes, PhD, an employment/labor/leadership/career expert, says the most important part of achieving a goal is knowing what it is. “When working with colleagues on a team or project, define and negotiate success—it’s important to understand what success looks like for each member of the team. Although this may not mean the same for everyone, understanding each person’s approach to success will help you manage vertically and horizontally and, most importantly, will help you understand your own work.” Here are some secrets that your boss won’t tell you.
jonetta rose barras: Politics of tips — kudos to the DC Council
October 5, 2018
The DC Line//Jonetta Rose Barras
It’s not often that I praise the DC Council collectively. However, the decision by the majority of legislators to approve the Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act of 2018, essentially beginning the process of repealing Initiative 77, was the right thing to do.
D.C. Council gives preliminary OK for bill to repeal tipped workers raise initiative
October 2, 2018
The Washington Times//Julia Airey
Ms. Nadeau proposed an amendment to Mr. Mendelson’s bill to relocate wage theft enforcement from the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) to the Office of the D.C. Attorney General, which the council has funded two additional positions for wage theft oversight.
D.C. Council Votes To Repeal Initiative 77, The Tipped Wage Increase
October 2, 2018
DCist//Ally Schweitzer
In two sessions at the Wilson Building today, the D.C. Council overturned Initiative 77, the ballot measure that gradually raises the minimum wage employers are required to pay tipped workers.
… Taking language from Silverman’s compromise amendment, Mendelson’s bill:
- Requires employers of tipped workers to undergo training on sexual harassment and wage-theft laws
- Calls on D.C.’s Department of Employment Services to create a website about the city’s wage and hour rules
On eve of vote to repeal Initiative 77, key D.C. lawmaker offers some concessions
October 1, 2018
The Washington Post//Fenit Nirappil
Mendelson added a requirement that the Department of Employment Services set up a tip line for wage theft, to report employers who fail to make up the difference when a tipped worker’s gratuities fall short of the standard minimum wage. Businesses would also be mandated to use a third-party company for payroll, as many already do, in an attempt to prevent falsified records.
As Some Councilmembers Push For Repeal Of Tipped Wage Initiative, Others Look To Compromise Bill
October 1, 2018
DCist//Ally Schweitzer
The compromise makes additional provisions that respond to feedback Silverman has received from restaurant owners and workers. It establishes a website and anonymous tip line for employees to report wage theft to D.C.’s Department of Employment Services; puts in place rules that require employers to inform workers about their right to a minimum wage; requires mandatory sexual harassment training; and creates a fix to the city’s existing tip reporting system, which owners say is inefficient.
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
Officials ask why First Source is having trouble getting D.C. residents into jobs
August 14, 2018
Street Sense Media//Meredith Roaten
Since being laid-off two years ago, Michael Wilson, Sr., has been looking for a job. He said it has not gotten any easier.
Wilson, a D.C. native, has worked as a porter and has experience in maintenance work. But he doesn’t have any certificates or other special credentials to draw attention to his skills. He uses computers at public libraries to fill out online job applications and recently attended a hiring event at So Others Might Eat. His goal was to attempt to secure a residential manager position so he can move out of his elderly cousin’s house.
JULY
D.C. to determine whether Adams Morgan hotel deserves $46M tax break
July 30, 2018
Curbed//Andrew Glambrone
Brianne Nadeau, who represents Adams Morgan as the councilmember for D.C.’s Ward 1, says the Line Hotel notified her late last week that it has received its permanent certificate of occupancy. This means the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) and the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) can audit the hotel project’s job numbers and other performance, according to the councilmember.
Investing in D.C.’s Future Workforce
July 12, 2018
The Georgetowner//Selma Khenissi
A look at the various opportunities that the Office of Youth Programs offers indicates that D.C. youth can start working toward solid employment as early as when they reach 14 years of age. Opportunities include the In-School Program, the Out-of-School Program and the Pathways for Young Adults Program. Young District residents can benefit in some way towards reaching the goal of gainful employment through such programs up until the age of 24.
DC's minimum wage increase in place
July 3, 2018
NewsTimes//Fox5DC
Several new laws in D.C. went into effect on Sunday, one of them, a minimum wage increase from $12.50 to $13.25. Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, Director of the District's Department of Employment Services, joined us with more on the increase. / Fox5DC
JUNE
2018 Workforce Game Changer: Unique Morris-Hughes
June 25, 2018
Workforce.com//Ayesha Ashley Househ
Unique Morris-Hughes was faced with the challenge of turning around two agencies with program-related issues as the chief strategy officer at the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services.
'Cost of doing business': Construction companies dodge D.C. mandate to hire local workers
June 25, 2018
The Washington Times//Julia Airey
The Department of Employment Services fined only one construction company from 2013 to 2016 for failing to follow the District’s First Source requirement that companies hire local workers if a project receives taxpayer dollars, according to a report from the D.C. auditor’s office.
No, Initiative 77 didn’t end tipping in D.C. A guide to newly passed measure
June 20, 2018
The Washington Post//Fenit Nirappil
The best data point comes from the D.C. Department of Employment Services: Audits of nearly 600 businesses employing about 7,400 tipped workers discovered 419 wage violations. That means there were violations involving 5 percent of workers.
DC Voters Pass Measure to Raise Tipped Workers' Minimum Wage
June 19, 2018
NBC4 Washington//NBC Washington Staff
A 2017 D.C. Department of Employment Services' Minimum Wage Economic Impact Study found that more than 27,000 employees in D.C. work for tips. More than half of those employees are not waiters or bartenders; they're hostesses, parking lot attendants and salon employees.
What D.C. Voters Need to Know for the Primary
June 18, 2018
NBC4//NBC4 Washington Staff
A 2017 D.C. Department of Employment Services' Minimum Wage Economic Impact Study found more than 27,000 employees in D.C. work for tips. More than half of those employees are not waiters or bartenders; they're hostesses, parking lot attendants and salon employees.
A Fight Over Tipping Is Tearing Progressives Apart
June 15, 2018
Mother Jones//Tonya Riley
Suddenly, the black-and-green signs are everywhere in Washington, DC: “Vote No on Initiative #77.” But while the signage may be one-sided, the upcoming ballot initiative at stake has bitterly divided the city’s overwhelmingly progressive residents and restaurant workers over the fate of tipping and the minimum wage in the nation’s capital.
D.C. to Decide on Giving Its Servers a Raise
June 15, 2018
Prospect//Manuel Madrid
The “2026” pop-up bar occupies the basement of a two-story building in Washington’s trendy Dupont Circle neighborhood, where young professionals observe the tradition of the weekly happy hour with near-religious fervor. Upstairs, the parent bar, Rebellion, brims with the usual sounds of glasses clinking and laughter. Head to lower level, though, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks painting, reimagined for a new age.
Private-Public Business Partnership Key to Strengthening D.C. Workforce and Economy
June 11, 2018
Los Angeles Sentinel//Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes
Cranes in the air, vital communities and a progressive push toward changing the image of a diverse federal district are signals that the District of Columbia is evolving. As robust construction of affordable housing and development of retail projects continue, DC’s economic boom is a shared benefit for residents and businesses.
Viewpoint: Unions are solution to D.C.'s First Source failure
June 7, 2018
Washington Business Journal//Stephen Courtien
A recent report by the D.C. auditor demonstrates the ongoing struggle of D.C.’s First Source program to live up to its worthy goals. It gives us a chance to reassess how we approach economic development. The failure of First Source cuts to the core of the most contentious political issue in the District: Who benefits from development — and who gets left behind?
MAY
Barry Summer-Job Program Helps D.C. in Top Places Rankings
May 30, 2018The Washington Informer
Summer isn’t just a season of daily walks on the beach or picnics at the park, but for some people, especially young adults, the warmer months are a time to gain extra spending power or work experience.
But whether you need or want a summer job, where you look for one will matter almost as much as what you do, according to the District-based personal finance website, WalletHub which took an in-depth look at 2018’s Best Places for Summer Jobs.
D.C.’s summer jobs program grows up
May 18, 2018
The Washington Post// Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes
Summer employment programs have become critical pipelines to engage the nation’s youths and put them on a path for career longevity or further education. The District long ago recognized the importance of investing in youth employment and preserving education funding
Need a Job in Ward 5? Find the WOW Truck.
May 12, 2018
Afro American//Lauren E. Williams
MidCity Financial Community Affairs Director Dr. Robert Johns says he is committed to bringing services to D.C.’s NE Ward 5 neighborhood. By partnering with the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) Workforce on Wheels (WOW) program, he is getting closer to doing just that.
Battle Escalates Within D.C. Restaurant Industry Over Tipped Minimum Wage Vote
May 9, 2018
Washington City Paper//Laura Hayes
Diners may have noticed servers and bartenders sporting “Save Our Tips” buttons that ask D.C. residents to vote no on 77. The initiative committee by the same name is one of several being bankrolled by industry leaders, operators, employees, and trade associations. National groups like Restaurant Workers of America (RWA) have also joined the local fight against 77.
Private companies have failed to hire D.C.’s unemployed residents, according to audit
May 7, 2018
Street Sense Media// Olivia Richter
The District government has failed to enforce its “First Source” program that requires private companies with city contracts to hire unemployed city residents, according to a recent report from the D.C. Auditor.
Tip Reporting Has D.C.-Area Restaurateurs, Worker Groups Puzzled
May 3, 2018
Bloomberg Law//Jon Steingart
The owner of Washington’s oldest saloon wonders why two major jurisdictions in the National Capital Region require employers to report on the wages and gratuities of tipped employees. Worker advocates are asking the same question, but from a much different perspective.
District aims to boost infrastructure jobs with training academy
May 1, 2018
Capital News Services//Juan Herrera
The District of Columbia and local utility companies aim to eliminate a shortage of qualified and trained professionals in the city’s infrastructure industry with a new training academy.
APRIL 2018
How to Compete in the Job Market as an Older Worker
April 30, 2018
US News//Rebecca Koenig
Most modern jobs require at least some use of digital technology, and in many industries the hiring process itself has migrated online. That means it's important for older workers to demonstrate that they're savvy with digital tools and to use best practices with social media.
This D.C. Program Put Me on the Path to the Career of My Dreams
April 25, 2018
Arturo Evans//Education Post
Washington, D.C., is a city booming with opportunity, entrepreneurship and innovation. Potentially, any graduate here could grow up and become whoever they want to be. But if they aren’t exposed to different career paths—like I was—how do they find the right one? How can the city expose students to what’s really possible? Arturo Evans is a former ambassador for the Marion Barry Summer Youth Program.
Audit: D.C. fails to enforce law requiring contractors to hire out-of-work residents
April 19, 2018
The Washington Post// Fenit Nirappil
The District government failed to make sure that companies with city contracts hired unemployed residents as required by law and rarely penalized those who didn’t, according to an audit released Thursday.
Bringing awareness to the services that will reduce unemployment in the District
April 9, 2018
WJLA//Staff
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Recently helping the Department of Employment Services clear its "at risk" designation, director Unique Morris-Hughes is continuing her efforts to lower the unemployment rate for residents in Washington, DC. and she joined us today to tell us more.
Our Cities Can Help Lift Young People Out of Poverty When They Invest in Their Skills and Education
April 6, 2018
Education Post//The Belief Gap Blog
The Brookings Institute estimates that 8,500 teens and 21,500 young people in the District are both out of school and the workforce, a population researchers refer to as “disconnected youth.” The reasons for the District’s staggering youth unemployment numbers are myriad, but a major part of the underlying problem is an incomplete high school education.
Purveyors of Power, Passion and Purpose: Meet 8 Female Leaders Fueling Progress in Our ...
April 5, 2018
Equities.com// Desireé Duffy
Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes is the Interim Director of The Washington D.C. Department of Employment Services(DOES). To most of us, her role is akin to that of a State Labor Commissioner. Through innumerable responsibilities, Dr. Morris-Hughes helps train, assist — and frequently empower — District ...
MARCH 2018
Meet Eight Female Leaders Giving the “Human” in Human Resources A New Meaning
March 28, 2018
Melissa Thompson//HR.com
Our current spotlight: Washington, D.C. In a town where many people focus on the power flowing from the federal government, there is another veritable power current operating: a female-fed force within the D.C. government. In some cases they’re not just the power behind the throne - they represent the throne, itself, enabling thousands of people to be their best. For this group - ranging from a Deputy Mayor to an State Labor Chief to a Chief of Staff and other determined managers - the District of Columbia is far more than a place to work. It is a place to change lives.
Capital Matters: A Washington D.C. Education & Workforce Chief Leads A New Charge on Behalf of Workers – and Has a Message for Canada & the World
March 19, 2018
David Jackson//Money Magazine Canada
Canada, meet the new boss in town. In the U.S. capital of Washington D.C., a new woman now helms one of the most important agencies in the country designed to educate, train and assist workers.
Her name: Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes.
Dr.Unique Morris-Hughes is Changing How We See the District of Columbia One Job – and One Success at a Time
March 2018
Melissa Thompson//allwomenstalk.com
In her role as Interim Director of the Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services Dr. Morris-Hughes shows us how fierce women make a difference. Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes was recently named the Interim Director of the Washington D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES); to the rest of us, she is the State Labor Commissioner.
The District of Columbia Infrastructure Accademy Officially Opens
March 16, 2018
Hamzatt Sani// The Afro
A partnership between the District government and private sector, the DC Infrastructure Academy will provide specialized training and workforce development programming for jobs in the growing infrastructure sector here in the nation’s capital.
Infrastructure skills training center opens in Washington, DC
March 15, 2018
Transportation Dive// Kim Slowey
Dive Brief:
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced the opening of the District of Columbia Infrastructure Academy (DCIA), which will train workers for jobs in the city's infrastructure industry, according to the an Associated Press article in U.S. News & World Report. The academy is a partnership between the city, utility companies, unions, universities and private companies.
Solar Energy Creates (Local) Jobs!
March 14, 2018
East of the River//Catherine Plume
GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic is working to ensure that residents are a part of this growing workforce through the Solar Works DC program, a three-year, low-income solar-installation and job-training initiative spearheaded by the District’s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and the Department of Employment Services (DOES).
Mayor Bowser Opens the DC Infrastructure Academy
March 13, 2018
Us NEWS// Mayor Bowser Opens the DC Infrastructure Academy
The Mayor of Washington, D.C. has opened a partnership that will provide a pipeline to in-demand infrastructure jobs.
Mayor Bowser opens the DC Infrastructure Academy
March 13, 2018
Sun Herarld// The Associated Press
The Mayor of Washington, D.C. has opened a partnership that will provide a pipeline to in-demand infrastructure jobs.
New Infrastructure Academy Designed to Help Fill Industry Jobs
March 13, 2018
Construction Equipment Guide// Emily Buenzele
Washington D.C. recently announced a new training program aimed at training workers for a variety of infrastructure-related jobs in fields like transportation, green technology and more. Of the 2,231 infrastructure jobs available in the District in 2017 (which pay an average of $48 per hour), just 1,246 were filled, said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and the gap only keeps getting bigger, WTOP reported.
Mayor Bowser opens the DC Infrastructure Academy
March 13, 2018
Star-Telegram// The Associated Press
The Mayor of Washington, D.C. has opened a partnership that will provide a pipeline to in-demand infrastructure jobs.
DC launches effort to train workers for high-paying infrastructure jobs
March 12, 2018
WTOP// Melissa Howell and Jack Moore
D.C. has rolled out a training program aiming to prepare workers for high-paying, fast-growing infrastructure jobs in fields ranging from transportation to green technology.
Viewpoint: D.C. workforce strong, but needs support
March 2, 2018
Washington Business Journal// Odie Donald II
Members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently convened in our nation’s capital to discuss the critical challenges that cities must address, both now and in years to come. As expected, the future of work featured prominently in these conversations.
FEBRUARY 2018
Pilot program houses D.C. residents while they find work
February 21, 2018
Street Sense Media//Colleen Grablic
After its pilot month, a new transitional housing program has provided seven individuals with the support they need to get on their feet, giving them resources to help find permanent housing and secure employment for up to six months. Director of the Department of Employment Services Odie Donald also helped launch the initiative and said the new program is unlike any that have come before. The program partners with Capital Area Asset Builders, and participants in the program must save money as a part of the program requirements. Capital Area Asset Builders then match whatever amount of money individuals save while in the program.
Meet Odie Donald, DC’s head of employment services. What would you ask him?
February 7, 2018
Greater Greater Washington// Odie Donald II
As Director of DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), the District's labor and workforce development agency, Odie Donald II is responsible for employment readiness and job training services for city residents. These programs include the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, LEAP, DC Career Connections, and more. Donald is also the Secretary of the National Association of Workforce Agencies (NASWA) Executive Committee and a member of the US Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Committee Board of Trustees.
Despite lingering questions, DC says paid family leave on track
February 1, 2018
WTOP// Nick Iannelli
Despite lingering questions about how paid family leave will be funded in D.C., the official in charge of implementing the program is insisting that the process is not lagging behind.
JANUARY 2018
Investing in Workforce Generates Healthy Returns
January 31, 2018
The Charleston Chronicle// Odie Donald II
In the last month, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced that the nation’s capital has lifted the label from the U. S. Department of Labor as a “high-risk” partner in job training and employment programs, and “at-risk” in Unemployment Insurance programs. The District had carried these risk designations since 2012, but in the last 18 months, concentrated efforts led by the Department of Employment Services (DOES) earned removal of the designation.
DC's 2018 summer youth employment program now open
January 26, 2018
WUSA9// Staff
Beginning today, D.C. residents ages 14 to 24, and employers, may apply for the 2018 Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). In a statement today, Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program gives young Washingtonians a unique opportunity to learn from other professionals, connect with mentors, and gain meaningful work experience – all while getting paid.”
District agencies re-examine efforts to employ homeless people
January 26, 2018
Street Sense Media// Reginald Black
The D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness held its last meeting of 2017 on Dec. 12 to discuss employment and homelessness. The Department of Employment Services hosted the meeting and introduced the group to several DOES programs for potential employees. Toward the end of the meeting, the council was joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Bowser gave thanks to her team — and expressed optimism about addressing homelessness with them going forward.
A fair wage for bartenders is about more than money
January 26, 2018
The Washington Post//Op-Ed
DC Local Government Remained Open During Shutdown
January 25, 2018
The Hoya/Deepika Jonnalagadda
While the federal government was shut down for about 69 hours between Saturday morning and Monday evening, the Washington, D.C. local government remained open using funds granted by a 2017 provision introduced by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the District’s nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
D.C. Leaders Gear Up For Best Summer Jobs Program, Yet
January 18, 2018
AFRO//Christina Sturdivant-Sani
Amid a budget cut and a pending legislation, D.C. leaders are gearing up to ensure that this year’s Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the most impactful, yet.
BOWSER: Leaping Toward the Middle Class
January 10, 2018
The Washington Informer// Op-Ed
Two years ago, Betty Henderson, a native of New Orleans but a longtime Washingtonian who moved to the capital in the ’70s, faced a situation thousands of Americans face each year — several months of unemployment had turned into years without work. Even with a college education, the longer she went without a job, the more difficult it was to get back into the workforce. Washington, D.C., has never before experienced better days, but like in many places across our country, our prosperity has not reached all residents equally. Years of systemic inequalities have held many Americans back from reaching the middle class. But our country remains full of men and women who are hopeful — men and women who want to work and are eager for opportunities to improve their communities. Through programs like LEAP, we are creating new pathways to the middle class and keeping the American dream alive.
DECEMBER
Strong Apprenticeship Programs Key to Addressing the Wage Gap
December 15, 2017
Atlanta Daily World//Odie Donald II
Over the last decades, many American inner cities have seen an economic resurgence. Buoyed by millennials and people’s desire to shorten their daily work commute, neighborhoods and communities that were all but pronounced dead two decades ago now find themselves flush with new businesses and residents. This is no more evident than here in the District of Columbia, where the economic recovery of the city has been nothing short of breathtaking. However, as many have noted, this growth has not been equally beneficial to all residents.
A Model for Advancement
December 15, 2017
Richmond Free Press//Odie Donald II
Over the last decades, many American inner cities have seen an economic resurgence. Buoyed by millennials and people’s desire to shorten their daily work commute, neighborhoods and communities that were all but pronounced dead two decades ago now find themselves flush with new businesses and residents. This is no more evident than here in the District of Columbia, where the economic recovery of the city has been nothing short of breathtaking. However, as many have noted, this growth has not been equally beneficial to all residents.
Job Fair
December 14, 2017
The Afro//Staff
On Nov. 18, MidCity and the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) hosted their first career fair at the Israel Baptist Church in the Brentwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. The event included 44 businesses and community benefit organizations with more than 185 job seekers from across the District.
DONALD: Strong Apprenticeship Programs Key to Closing Wage Gap
December 14, 2017
The Washington Informer//Odie Donald II
Traditional apprenticeship programs have been primarily relegated to labor fields, such as carpentry or pipefitting, but there are a growing number of companies offering them in high-skill/high-wage fields, such as IT and engineering.
Bright Beginnings gives a helping hand to a mother learning to be a parent
December 6, 2017
Washington Post//John Kelly
Said Marilyn: “It was a good point — don't waste all your time in all this schooling to get there and find you can't handle it.” With Dontavious in day care, Marilyn started an EMT course at a school near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro, the tuition funded by the District's Department of Employment Services.
Apprenticeship Opportunities Through The DC Office Of Employment Services
December 5, 2017
WHUR 96.3 FM//Harold Fisher – The Daily Drum
Apprenticeship opportunities for trades and tech field through the DC Department of Employment Services
NOVEMBER
D.C. leaders hope revamped apprenticeships can bring more residents to the middle class
November 28, 2017
The Washington Post//Perry Stein
In September, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced she would allocate $400,000 in additional grants to the city’s apprenticeship program to diversify offerings and include more industries. While many private companies fund their own apprenticeship programs, the city grants will be used, in part, to help companies pay apprentices.
DC Community Carrot Announces New Leadership and Expansion Based on Successful Outcome ...
November 6, 2017
Digital Journal//Press Release
DC Community Carrot ("Carrot") has completed a seven-month pilot project to demonstrate the non-profit organization's ability to help DC's Out of School Youth to create their own businesses. The effort was funded by generous grants from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) and the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES).
OCTOBER
Why No Company Should Have A Diversity Goal
October 19, 2017
Forbes//George Bradt
At the CEO Connection Mid-Market CEO Convention, literally the day after HATCH, we explored the economic side of diversity. A breakout panel on “Leveraging Diversity: A Key To Your Future Workplace” included the National Urban League’s Donald Cravins, the Girl Scout’s Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Washington DC’s Department of Employment Services’ Van Freeman and KRStrategy’s Kathryn Ritchie.
Thirteen of DC's Newest CEOs, all Living Under the Poverty Limit and Under 26 Years Old, to ...
October 11, 2017
SYS-CON Media //Press Release
Thirteen young entrepreneurs, all living under the poverty limit and with additional life barriers, have received their business licenses and will receive their Certificate of Completion from DC Community Carrot, a 501c3 non-profit based in Petworth/Brightwood Park. The graduation takes place this Saturday, October 14th at 3pm, at the WeWork's Wonderbread Building office, 641 S Street NW.
Funding for the inaugural class from grants from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development as well as the DC Department of Employment Services.
City Official: DC's Paid Family Leave Program May Face Delays, Cost More Than Planned
October 10, 2017
WAMU 88.5//Martin Austermuhle
The District’s paid family leave law isn’t expected to take effect until mid-2020. But a slate of proposed changes the D.C. Council is considering and the realities of building a city-run program from scratch means delays and higher costs may come to pass.
That was the message City Administrator Rashad Young conveyed to legislators during a day-long hearing on Tuesday on the paid-leave bill that was passed by the Council late last year and became law earlier this year. It grants workers up to eight weeks of paid leave, and is funded by a 0.62 percent payroll tax on all private employers.
Young said he expects the leave program will be managed by a new Office of Paid Leave within the existing Department of Employment Services. The office will need 115 new employees at an annual cost of between $9 to $11.5 million.
DC official questions city's ability to implement paid leave law
October 10, 2017
Washington Business Journal//Tina Reed
The District's Department of Employment Services, which will administer the paid leave program, must spend at least $2 million to hire new employees this fiscal year to start implementing the law, he said. Those funds, he said, were not included in the District's fiscal 2018 budget, which began Oct. 1.
SEPTEMBER
How D.C.’s Workforce System Ditched Its ‘High Risk’ Federal Designation
September 11, 2017
Route Fifty//Dave Nyczepir
Previously the District’s Department of Employment Services learned the 36-deliverable corrective action plan it drafted over three months was both approved and ahead of schedule—wins for an agency that has struggled on and off for the past 17 years.
“Our turnaround has been focused on people,” Odie Donald II, DOES director, told Route Fifty in a sit-down interview. “More so than this high-risk designation.”
Washington D.C. to Launch New Infrastructure Academy
September 8, 2017
Infrastructuresolutionsgroup//Staff
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has launched the D.C. Infrastructure Academy, an innovative workforce training program that will provide hands-on experience and access for residents to secure jobs in the infrastructure industry.
DC sheds 'high-risk' Labor Department Designation
Paducah leaders push for jobs during D.C. visit
September 7, 2017
WPSD Local6//Todd Faulkner
Jobs and good-paying wages for local families: That’s what members of the Paducah Chamber of Commerce are pushing for in Washington, D.C. this week.
District gets a vote of approval from Labor Dept. for improved job training
September 7, 2017
The Washington Post//Robert McCartney
The federal government has given the District a vote of confidence for what it called the city’s success in enrolling more residents in job-training programs and improving handling of federal workforce grants.
New Academy Aims to Give DC Residents More Training for Infrastructure Jobs
September 5, 2017
NBC4 Washington//Associated Press
“The D.C. Infrastructure Academy will give D.C. residents the chance to learn the nuts and bolts of what makes our city run,” Bowser said. “Everything from utilities to transportation and logistics to operations and green technologies — and ensure that they are first in line when it comes to securing the infrastructure jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Starting in 2018, the Department of Employment Services will operate the academy out of an interim location east of the Anacostia River until a permanent location can be completed.
AUGUST
Nonprofit installs solar panels on roofs of lower-income households — free
August 6, 2017
Washington Post//Mary Hui
The trainees are part of the summer cohort of the newly launched Solar Works DC, a low-income solar installation and job-training program jointly developed by the District’s Department of Energy and Environment and the Department of Employment Services. The program will train more than 200 D.C. residents over three years, and GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic was awarded a grant to implement the first year of the program. The organization will train about 75 program participants in skills needed for careers in solar and related fields, and install solar panels for 60 to 100 income-qualified District homeowners.
Wharf career fair for DC residents only
August 4, 2017
WTOP// Jeff Clabaugh
D.C. residents looking for a job will have the inside edge at a job fair for the new Southwest Waterfront development.
A career fair for thousands of jobs at The Wharf will be held at Arena Stage (1101 Sixth St. SW) on Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon.
GALA Hispanic Theatre's Paso Nuevo and Summer Youth Program Present TELL 'EM WHAT'S ...
August 3, 2017
Capital Wire PR//Press Release
To launch Paso Nuevo’s 25th anniversary year, Paso Nuevo and participants of GALA’s Summer Youth Program are proud to present Tell “Em What’s REALLY Wrong, an evening of original works, on Friday, August 4, 2017 at 8 pm at the GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Performed in English with some Spanish, the presentation is directed by Martha Mckeown, and is in collaboration with the Theater Lab School of Dramatic Arts.
JULY
10th DC Career Fair to Take Over Arena Stage This August
July 31, 2017
Broadway World
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, in partnership with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, the D.C. Department of Employment Services, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and The Wharf opens its doors for the 10th D.C. Career Fair Thursday, August 10, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mead Center (1101 Sixth St., SW).
Retirement deferred: Workers, companies grapple with new reality
July 29, 2017
Washington Post//Staff
Job seekers 55 and older arrive at the District of Columbia's Department of Employment headquarters in Washington D.C. The percentage of Americans working past the traditional retirement age hit new highs in the most recent jobs numbers, data show, with 19 percent of those 65 and older working at least part-time.
Is DC’s Summer Jobs Program Working for Residents in their Early 20s?
July 28, 2017
WAMU 88.5 //Patrick Madden
Finding a job can be tough, but for young people in their early 20s, it can be particularly challenging. In fact, the District has the second highest rate of unemployment in the nation for people aged 20 to 24. To tackle this problem, the city recently took an expensive gamble: expanding its summer jobs program to adults in this age group.
Solar panels to be installed in DC homes for new initiative launched by Mayor Bowser
July 25, 2017
WJLA //Sam Ford
Under the project, nearly 300 low-income residents will have the solar panels installed in their homes. The plan is a joint effort between the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Department of Employment Services (DOES), according to a release from Mayor Bowser's Office.
DC Mayor Kicks Off Low-Income Solar Program, Accepts SolSmart Award
July 25, 2017
Solar Industry//Joseph Bebon
On Monday, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off the first cohort of Solar Works DC, a job training program that installs cost-saving solar energy systems on the homes of low-income residents. A joint effort between the district’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Department of Employment Services, the program will provide on-the-job technical training to more than 200 D.C. residents between the ages of 18 to 24 and reduce energy costs for up to 300 D.C. residents by as much as $600 annually.
Barbershops and Barbering in the District; DCRA Regulations Govern the Profession
July 25, 2017
InTowner//Larry Ray
The DC Department of Employment Services’ Office of Labor Market Research and Information projects that by 2022 there will have been a 23% increase in the number of individual barbering licenses issued since 2012 as a consequence of the apparent growing demand of men for grooming services.
JUNE
Out of Prison and Out of Work: Employment Barriers in DC
June 3, 2017
HillRag//Linnea Lassister
The District is making an increased effort to reduce the barriers faced by justice-involved and returning residents, but there is more that can be done.
The first way is to fund programs that serve people with high barriers to employment, including prior felony convictions, through providing adult education, job-training programs, and subsidized employment, such as Project Empowerment, operated by the DC Department of Employment Service (DOES).
MAY
When An Ex-Offender Couldn’t Find A Job, He Made One For Himself
May 30, 2017
Washington Post//Cortland Milloy
In December, after getting a business license and small-business loan, Lorenzo Stewart started a transportation service for the disabled and elderly. It’s called VOW Transportation. The initials stand for Vision of Winning
D.C. city leaders prepare for summer with focus on jobs, crime, recreation
Friday, May 26, 2017
Sam Ford//ABC7
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser discussed preparations for summer with topics centered on jobs, crime and recreation on Thursday.
GW appeals decision to compensate former employee as years long legal battle continues
May 4, 2017
GW Hatchet (subscription)//Justine Coleman
A decade ago Arion Jones, a former janitorial worker, filed application for review to the D.C. Department of Employment Services asking the University to pay disability benefits because of an injury he had sustained while at work. The review was the start of a protracted legal battle that has seen 11 decisions and orders changing if and how much Jones could earn in compensation, including two Compensation Review Board decisions and two orders from Administrative Law Judge Gregory Lambert within the past two years.
APRIL
Utility Workforce Training Coming to D.C.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Sarafina Wright//Washington Informer
District residents will now have the opportunity to join a workforce training program that will prepare them for employment in the utilities industry. Attachment: Utility Workforce Training Coming to D.C.
Finding Summer Jobs for D.C. Youth
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Chris and Markette, learn how the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program is working to provide summer jobs for DC young adults.
To view video click here
Pathways to Work program aims to help unemployed people in D.C.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
D.C. Council member David Grosso met Wednesday with the inaugural class of the Pathways to Work job-readiness program to learn how private initiatives are helping tackle unemployment in the city.
Attachment: Pathways to Work program aims to help unemployed people in D.C.
MARCH
Youth People in DC Developing Job Skills at Career Fair
March 31, 2017
Kristin Wright//NBC4 Washington
Young people got a chance to rub elbows with future employers at a D.C. career expo Friday. One teen told News4's Kristin Wright jobs help youth avoid feeling "lost in the world."
Arena Stage, Councilmembers Allen & Silverman to Host April D.C. CAREER FAIR
March 27, 2017
Broadway World//News Desk
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, in partnership with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, opens its doors for the ninth D.C. Career Fair Wednesday, April 5, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mead Center (1101 Sixth St., SW).
Progress has been the motivation for immigration to the United States
Sunday, March 12, 2017
John Rodriguez//Senior Political Analyst, Latin time/the planet
During the 2016 election, the issue of employment was the most important for the majority of the voters. But many think that the illusion of the American dream is in jeopardy under the new administration of Trump. With the new policies of a Republican government in Congress and the Executive Office what will be the impact on the daily life of the residents of the DMV? I wanted to know what opinion leaders in the field of employment, how they feel about the subject, and what opportunities and services available to the community.
FEBRUARY
Eviction Companies Pay the Homeless Illegally Low Wages
February 23, 2017
Washington City Paper//Elizabeth Flock
It is a bitter cold morning in November, and the sun is just creeping up over the horizon. But for over an hour already, two unmarked vans have been idling or parked outside S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), a longtime nonprofit that feeds D.C.’s homeless. These are the eviction company vans, known as “trucks,” and they are waiting for cheap, off-the-books labor.
2017 Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program
February 22, 2017
Melanie Hastings//Channel 8
Acting DOES Director Odie Donald II and Shadaye White, MBSYEP alum and WMATA employee, discuss what’s new and exciting for 2017 MBSYEP.
Facebook Live with a special update on the expansion of the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program
February 22, 2017
Facebook Live – Official Mayor Bowser FB page
Acting DOES Director Donald and Shadaye White, MBSYEP alum and WMATA hire discuss permanent expansion, program enhancements and the extension of the application deadline to Saturday, March 4.
Summer Jobs for DC Youth
February 21, 2017
WUSA 9
Great Day Washington hosts Chris and Markette hear about a great summer jobs program for D.C.
Bowser Wants to Increase Age for D.C.'s Summer Jobs Program
February 1, 2017
AFRO//Shantella Y. Sherman
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) urged the D.C. Council to provide more job training and employment opportunities to District residents through the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. Established in 1979 to introduce low-income youth, ages 14-21, to the workforce, Bowser hopes to have the eligibility age permanently increased to include those up age 24.
JANUARY
DC mayor wants to make teen summer jobs expansion permanent
January 27, 2017
WTOP//Kristi King
D.C.'s summer youth employment program is taking applications through Feb. 24 to connect some 13,000 young people to meaningful, paid work experiences. The program was recently expanded to include young adults as old as 24, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants to make that change permanent.
Mayor Bowser Calls on DC Council to Permanently Expand MBSYEP
January 27, 2017
DC Mayor’s Office
Mayor Muriel Bowser calls on the Council of the District of Columbia to give more young Washingtonians the opportunity to gain critical job skills by permanently expanding the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program.