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Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow HISTORY AND MISSION 2
HISTORY 1983 Sister Mary Franciscus founds OBT in Sunset Park 2001 OBT opened second location in the Bushwick/Williamsburg section of Brooklyn 2005 Sister Mary passed away. OBT hired Randy Peers, former Vice President at Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as their new Executive Director 2009 OBT Opened its third location; The Bushwick Workforce Resource Center (BWRC) 2012 OBT becomes an Office of New Americans Opportunity Center 2013 OBT opens a new location and Young Adult Internship Program in Bed-Stuy 2013 OBT launches the new Y Roads Center in Jamaica, Queens 2014 OBT launches the new Y Roads Center in Mott Haven, Bronx 2015 OBT launches the Website Design & Coding Program 2016 OBT launches the YAIP+ Program and the Young Adult Literacy Program OBT now serves 4,500 youth and adults annually providing education, employment and job training services. 3
MISSION The mission of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow is to help disadvantaged youth and adults recognize their own self-worth, and advance towards self-sufficiency and financial security through job training, academic reinforcement, improved life skills, job placement, and support services. OBT approaches all of its endeavors with these three principles in mind: Confidence: All of OBT s programs seek to instill confidence in participants so that they can increase their self-esteem and improve their own chances to succeed. Discipline: OBT s training model stresses personal discipline. OBT s high standards and expectations hold participants accountable for their own success, making no excuses if they fail. Professionalism: All of OBT s programs are modeled after a simulated corporate work environment. Participants are required to dress and groom professionally, be on time each day, handle work assignments with deadlines, and behave as they would be expected to behave at work. 4
LOCATIONS 5
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow PROGRAMS 6
YOUTH PROGRAMS Youth Education & Job Training Program Designed to open the door to a wide range of occupations and industries. Our program includes a combination of Hard and Soft Skills, Education, and Applied Learning Modules. OBT seeks to build Transferable skills, namely the ability to write, speak, and think, are critical to climbing the career ladder in today s economy. Serves 700 young adults ages 17 to 24 per year. Young Adult Paid Internship Program & Young Adult Internship Program Plus Five weeks of skills training and workplace orientation, followed by an eleven-week paid internship at corporations and nonprofit organizations. YAIP+ program designed for foster care or court involved youth and includes intensive counseling component. Serves 400 young adults ages 17 to 24 YAIP+ 16-24. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Career training for young adults that leads to obtaining a certification as a medical administrative assistant. Internships and job placement assistance are included. Serves 60 young adults ages 17 to 24. Website Design and Coding Students increase skills to analyze information using digital technology while learning intro to website design, coding, and Photoshop. Connects youth to employment and competitive computer training opportunities related to the digital economy. Serves 100 young adults ages 17 to 24. Young Adult Literacy Program Designed for young adults who read at an eighth grade level or below. The program helps build literacy and math skills so young adults can enroll in a HSE preparation program or Young Adult Internship Program. Serves 100 young adults ages 17 to 24. 7
Y ROADS Y Roads is a new strategic partnership between OBT and the YMCA Y Roads is a fully integrated mix of services designed to put opportunity" youth in New York City on a solid path to achievement. This one-stop approach, combines OBT services such as career counseling, vocational skills training, job placement, internship development, academic support, college access, with YMCA services that include recreation, healthy lifestyle choices, mental health counseling, and emergency housing in an effort to build productive adults from the ground up. Y Roads centers are located in Jamaica, Queens, Mott Haven, Bronx and a third location is being planned. 8
ADULT PROGRAMS Adult Employment and Training Program Computer skills and customer service training coupled with direct job placement assistance for dislocated workers and Food Stamp recipients. Adult Literacy and Education Program Six levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages, Pre-HSE, and HSE Classes. All participants receive job counseling and have access to employment placement services. Classes meet for 20-week cycles (2 cycles a year). Office of New Americans Assistance with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), English for Speakers of Other Languages Computer Classes, Immigration Law Consultations and Provider Trainings, Naturalization Assistance, Entrepreneurship Training and Support and access to additional opportunities. 9
APPLIED LEARNING MODULES Public Speaking and Communications OBT s public speaking course develops trainees who can present themselves professionally and effectively in any setting, while building their confidence and self-esteem. The course culminates in a "Debate Day" where they showcase their new skills through a series of persuasive speeches and by participating in a "mock trial. Service Learning Service learning gives young adults an opportunity to give back to their communities, while simultaneously building their resumes, gaining work experience, and helping to meet career goals. Past service projects have included volunteering in soup kitchens, wrapping Christmas gifts for children, and cleaning up Prospect Park. Speed Networking Speed Networking gives our youth an opportunity to learn about new professions, gain perspectives on career pathways, expand their professional networks, and practice their interviewing skills. During an event, trainees have multiple interviews with professionals, who fill out feedback cards and follow-up with a one-to-one to discuss observations. 10
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow JOB PLACEMENT & COLLEGE ACCESS 11
JOB PLACEMENT Job Placement Clerical positions in financial services, law firms, Brooklyn & Queens District Attorney Offices, 311 Operators, Medical Facilities, Small Businesses, and others. Strategic partnerships with corporate outsourcing firms Mailroom Operations Administrative Support IT/Technology 12
COLLEGE ACCESS OBT embeds a college going culture throughout our organization through our College Access Program, which consists of two fundamental phases: PHASE 1 Foundations of College knowledge Demystification of college and the admissions process Evaluate students Academic Readiness for success in a post-secondary environment Post-secondary connection to the world of work prior to beginning a program of study PHASE 2 Building towards long-term success Utilize Career Cruising for long-term college and career planning Connect students with Educational Opportunity Programs that provide academic and financial support Track students credits while in school Monthly Stay at Work/Stay in College meetings to promote retention 13
RETENTION OBT Retention Mission: To provide support and tools to assist trainees in retaining long-term employment. OBT will incorporate three main strategies towards restructuring its retention plan. They are: Trainee Oriented Retention Strategies Use of Social Networking sites, such as Facebook, to communicate and reengage the graduates of all OBT programs The Stay At Work (SAW) Program Monthly support meetings for alumni who are in school or employed to help troubleshoot work related or college issues. Coordinates both Social and Functional (theme-based) workshops to ensure that trainees remain employed and/or enrolled in college Employer Oriented Retention Strategies: Strong relationships with employers with offers of enhanced services Employer involvement and recognition Intervention services at the workplace 14
OUTCOMES Total Youth Served Annually = 1350+ 95% Program Completion 75% GED Attainment (80% Overall Credential Attainment) 68-72% Employment and/or College Enrollment 68% - 6-Month Retention $10.15- Average wage at Placement 15
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow STRATEGIC GROWTH 16
OBT s ERA OF GROWTH 2007- PRESENT Expansion of Services/Populations Served Adult Literacy (ESOL; HSE/GED) Adult Employment Young Adult Internship Programs Immigration & Citizenship (Bushwick) Expansion of Training Areas Applied Learning Modules (Youth) Public Speaking; Speed Networking; Service Learning; Virtual Enterprise Health Career Training Medical Administrative Assistant Electronic Health Records Information Technology 17
OBT s ERA OF GROWTH 2007- PRESENT CONT. Geographic Expansion Bushwick Workforce Resource Center (2008) Bed-Stuy Young Adult Internship Site (2012) Y Roads Jamaica (2013) Y Roads Bronx (2014) Y Roads # 3 (Coming Soon) Mergers & Acquisitions Maura Clarke-Ita Ford Center MCIF (2015) Smart Growth What We Turned Down In-School Youth Programs Summer Youth Employment Charter Schools & DOE Small Schools Acquisition of Vocational Foundation 18
BOTTOM LINE ON GROWTH 2006 - PRESENT $8,000,000 $7,000,000 $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $- 189% Increase in Operating Budget Revenues Expenses Net Assets 19
BOTTOM LINE ON GROWTH 2006 - PRESENT 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 166% Increase in Number of Full-Time Staff Full-Time Staff 20
BOTTOM LINE ON GROWTH 2006 - PRESENT Total Youth Served 2006 Total Youth Served 2015 Total Youth Served 2016 (All Programs) 240 (All Programs) 1,351 (All Programs) (Projected) 1,410 Total Adults Served 2006 Total Adults Served 2016 (Projected) (All Programs) 342 (All Programs) 3,000+ 21
WHY WE GROW Economies of Scale Leveraging/Coordination of Programs Talent Acquisition and Retention The Youth Crisis Persists! 22
FUTURE GROWTH OBT s Strategic Planning Process Completed in Feb. 2016 Third Y Roads Center 2016/2017 Anchor Employers Infrastructure and Improvements New options for growth + Second Tier Cities Strategy Expand existing programs and capacity + More Merger & Acquisition Opportunities + New Training Tracks + Competitive Funding Opportunities in Education, Job Training & Youth Employment (Compete as a Citywide Organization) 23
CONTACT Randy Peers Chief Executive Officer 783 Fourth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 718-369-0303 rpeers@obtjobs.org Rob Hansen Interim Chief Strategy Officer 783 Fourth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 718-369-0303 rhansen@obtjobs.org www.obtjobs.org 24