Brooklyn Workforce Innovations

Red hook on the road:red hook on the road is bwi's commercial driving training program. This four-week program prepares participants for jobs as drivers of "class b/bps" commercial vehicles including trucks, school buses, coach or charter buses, airport shuttle buses and access-a-ride and other para-transit vehicles. The course consists of industry-specific skills, such as map-reading and behind the wheel instruction, as well as job readiness and soft skills, such as mock interviews and customer service skills training. In fy23, bwi enrolled 187 individuals into training, graduating 92%. So far, 81% of graduates have obtained cdl certification and 78% of those licensed have been connected to employment. Starting wages for working graduates are $24.02/hour, on average.

Brooklyn woods: Brooklyn woods trains new yorkers for careers in woodworking and fabrication. Through seven weeks of classroom and hands-on training, graduates learn shop production, wood technology, finishing techniques, cabinet installation, mechanical drawing, and the safe use and proper care of hand and power tools in bwi's custom-built woodworking shop. Graduates are placed in jobs at large and small woodworking shops, construction and home renovation companies, home improvement stores and real estate property management firms. Brooklyn woods also operates a cabinet-building social enterprise which offers employment opportunities to recent graduates. In fy23, Brooklyn woods enrolled 70 participants, graduating 83%. Thus far, 64% of graduates have been placed in jobs in the sector earning $22.71 on average.

Bwi's nycha resident training academy:bwi's nycha resident training academy prepares public housing residents for careers with the new york city housing authority (nycha). Trainees participate in up to six weeks of training for various employment opportunities on nycha developments throughout the five boroughs, including caretaker and construction related roles. Positions with nycha offer opportunities for advancement and excellent benefits. In fy23, this program enrolled 276 individuals, graduating 92% of those enrolled. Thus far, 90% of graduates have been placed into jobs, earning $15.89 on average.

"made in ny" production assistant training program:the "made in ny" production assistant (pa) training program connects underrepresented new yorkers with careers in tv and film production through hands-on training. The intensive four-week program is offered in partnership with the nyc mayor's office of media and entertainment. Participants learn set and office production assistant skills and are placed in jobs on feature films, episodic and reality tv, commercials, music videos and other productions. In fy23, this program enrolled 74 individuals, graduating 95%. Thus far, 86% of graduates have been connected to employment and are earning an average of $23.87/hour. The nationwide writers (wga) and actors (sag-aftra) strikes have impacted fy23 placements for this program, but now that the strikes are resolved robust hiring in nyc has resumed. "made in ny" post production training program:the "made in ny" post production program offers five weeks of training on industry-standard post production software and certification by the new york city mayor's office of media and entertainment. The program prepares graduates each year for entry-level positions at post production companies. Entry-level positions often lead to exposure to more technical facets of post production and can help establish a pathway to a more specialized role in the field. In fy23, this program enrolled 46 individuals, graduating 96% and thus far placing 71% of graduates in jobs earning $22.68/hour. Similar to the production assistant training program, the nationwide writers (wga) and actors (sag-aftra) strikes impacted placements for this program, but nyc is projecting persistently strong hiring demand within the sector now that the strike is resolved. Brooklyn networks:brooklyn networks is bwi's information and communications technology program, which offers access to jobs installing and maintaining computer, voice, data, video, and security system cabling. This six-week, full-time training program is led by industry experts and served 61 individuals in fy23, graduating 89% of enrollees. Graduates have the opportunity to obtain their industry-recognized building industry consulting service international ("bicsi") certification and quickly begin work in the field. Last year, bwi placed 80% of graduates into jobs earning an average of $20.17/hour. Brooklyn Workforce collaboration:the Brooklyn Workforce collaboration is bwi's employer-customized training program that offers training tailored to specific hiring demands, with a particular focus on growing sectors of new york city's economy. Training programs are developed based on specific employer demand. Bwi has piloted successful training programs in preparation for roles in the affordable housing industry, solar installation, and tech sectors roles. In fy23, the program served 115 individuals and graduated 88% of those enrolled. Thus far, 85% of graduates have been placed in jobs earning an average of $21.15.