New Mexico’s first Workforce Native American Summit held with 14 Pueblos and Tribes in attendance
For Immediate Release
November 19, 2019
New Mexico’s first Workforce Native American Summit held with 14 Pueblos and Tribes in attendance
(Albuquerque, NM) – For the first time in our state’s history, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) hosted the first Native American Workforce Summit with 14 Pueblos and Tribes in attendance that receive Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding. The Summit provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about workforce development programs delivered through Tribes and Pueblos as well as Identify opportunities for engagement and partnership to leverage resources, tools, and funding to increase services and support for Native American job seekers and businesses.
“Governor Lujan Grisham is committed to building an economy that works for everyone,” said NMDWS Secretary Bill McCamley. “The Native American Summit was a pivotal first step in bringing everyone together to discuss workforce needs for our Tribes and Pueblos, and how we can work together to provide the best possible services and resources to job seekers in those communities.”
“The summit provided New Mexico’s Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos a great opportunity to come together and learn how to better support Native American job seekers and Native-owned businesses,” said IAD Secretary Lynn Trujillo. “Thank you to Secretary McCamley and the Department of Workforce Solutions for all of the great work they are doing to support and train job seekers and businesses to become self-sufficient and advance their careers.”
Attendees discussed plans for strategies and actions to improve communication and collaboration, including training for Tribes and Pueblos on NMDWS tools, such as Career Solutions (www.nmcareersolutions.com), Why I Work (www.dws.state.nm.us/whyiwork), and the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System (www.jobs.state.nm.us). Customized training will also be developed on case management skills, to improve intake, assessment and planning co-enrollment of individuals to fully support individual training plans career readiness and exploration with Native American youth. The customized training will including development of quality internships, work based learning experiences and summer youth employment Inclusion of Native American Programs in State and Local Plans.
The Summit took place on Thursday, November 14, 2019 with over 50 individuals in attendance at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM. Moving forward from this initial summit Invitations will be extended to include Native American program representation in Local Area Workforce Development Boards. Quarterly informational meetings will also be scheduled that include training on resources and tools.
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The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Indian and Native American Program – Employment and Training Grants are intended to support employment and training activities for Indians and Native Americans throughout the United States. The purpose of the program is to support employment and training activities for Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to: a) develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; b) make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and c) promote the economic and social development of Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities.
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Media Contacts:
Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Office of Communications, Marketing, and Government Affairs
505-250-3926
Stacy.johnston@state.nm.us
Sherrie Catanach
Public Relations Coordinator
Indian Affairs Department
505-469-7599
Sherrie.Catanach2@state.nm.us