Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and DCSD Connect Students with Local Employers
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! joined forces with Douglas County School District (DCSD) to host the first-ever Legacy Campus Career & Hiring Fair on February 28, 2025. The event allowed hundreds of high school students to interact with representatives from 63 local employers, explore various career options, hone their job interview techniques, and even land jobs on-the-spot in some instances. Students enrolled in Career and Technical Education classes at Legacy Campus were able to attend and many DCSD seniors who aren’t currently taking CTE classes at Legacy Campus also took advantage of the chance to connect with potential employers one-on-one.
ADWDB Receives High Performing Board Designation
The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) recognizes local workforce development boards as high performing when they meet a series of key performance indicators. The Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board (ADWDB) was awarded High Performing Board distinction and received the maximum point allotment for Program Year 2023.
National Disability Navigator Award
Congratulations Lia (Weiler) Gallagher, Disability Program Navigator at Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, for winning the Judy Emery “Genesis” Award. Lia was recognized for her leadership in navigating employment services for job seekers with disabilities at the June 11, 2024 National Navigator Exchange meeting hosted by the National Disability Institute. The award recognizes her passion, valuable community leadership, and innovation.
The award was named after Judy Emery who was a Project Manager at A/D Works! and the Colorado Urban Workforce Alliance (CUWA) Director. Judy served as the Lead for a Colorado ‘systems-change’ grant in 2000. Judy and her team piloted the establishment of a “Navigator” in workforce systems through this initiative. The model was expanded nationally in 2003. Judy’s vision and approach with workforce systems in alignment to strengthen the inclusion of people with disabilities in employment services was the genesis of a national phenomenon that continues in many workforce systems and states without federal grant support.
Lia “is the embodiment of Judy Emery’s spirit in this role” said Robin B.
Read more about Lia and other Colorado Navigators who were awarded ‘National Navigator Awards.’
Parents to Work Offers Support for Child Support
This year’s Parents to Work Accomplishment Ceremony was held on July 31, 2024. It is an evening of celebration to recognize the success of our participants! The event featured motivational guest speakers and awards.
Parents to Work is a partnership between Arapahoe County Child Support Services and Arapahoe/Douglas Works! that is designed to help individuals meet their obligations of child support while also being able to meet their day-to-day needs. Parents to Work offers employment, training, GED prep, and supportive services to both custodial and non-custodial parents with a child support case in Arapahoe County.
Over the last year, about 233 people utilized the Parents to Work Program and more than 5,000 services.
Andrea Barnum, Workforce Programs Manager, said “the program placed four customers in work-based learning experiences, assisted 13 customers in obtaining post-secondary training, graduated 31 fathers in the Fatherhood Program, and provided career navigation and exploration assistance that resulted in over 100 participants finding employment at an average wage of placement of $22.73 per hour.”
Read the full article from Colorado Community Media to learn more about the Parents to Work program.
September is Workforce Development Month
Governor Jared Polis has declared September Workforce Development Month. Each September, we celebrate Workforce Development Month to recognize, honor, and publicize the contributions of our nation’s workforce professionals. Workforce Development Month was created in 2005 by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). It is a great opportunity to heighten public awareness, strengthen alliances, leverage resources, and increase the number of people who understand the vital role workforce development plays in our nation’s economy. Read the full press release and proclamation.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! staff are instrumental in the community, creating essential links between businesses that are looking to recruit jobseekers and the available education, training, and support resources.
Follow A/D Works! on X or LinkedIn to stay tuned to see how we are working to support employers, workers, job seekers, and learners across Arapahoe/Douglas counties.
On September 12th, there will be an Open House at the Castle Rock Workforce Center on the ACC Sturm Campus. The event offers an opportunity to meet your local workforce center staff and learn more about available services. There will also be job seeker and business networking.
Check out our website for more events happening during Workforce Development Month.
Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
From Nov. 13th–19th, employers, labor and community-based organizations, government leaders, and others will host events to showcase the value of Registered Apprenticeships. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! has supported 338 apprentices through 17 apprenticeship programs. After exiting the program, participants are earning $6 more per hour than they were making before. Karen participated in a Digital Marketing Specialist Apprenticeship with Two Octobers and said that “it was a dream come true.”
Learn more about Registered Apprenticeships at https://www.adworks.org/job-seekers/registered-apprenticeships/.
A/D Works! staff present at 2023 Think Big Conference
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment hosted the 2023 Think Big Conference August 28th – 30th in Loveland. Multiple staff from Arapahoe/Douglas Works! (A/D Works!) were selected to present to a statewide audience of workforce development professionals, employers, and community partners.
Ruth McCormick and Dee Wittmer held an interactive and insightful workshop designed to help workforce understand the needs of today’s young adults and assist businesses with addressing their labor shortages.
Ellyn Mager and Ruth Prosko spoke about how A/D Works! built a sustainable co-enrollment model across the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Colorado Works, Employment First, and other discretionary grant programs.
A/D Works! nominated employer partners who have a passion for working with young adults for various awards. Cablenet won a Governor’s Summer Job Hunt Employer Award for creating valuable opportunities for young adults. The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) received the Proud Partner award for achieving greater results through commitment to developing sound partnerships that make an impact in the community. In 2022, A/D Works! served 40 young adults referred by CCIC. In Spring 2023 alone, A/D works! supported nearly 100 CCIC students to complete training for and obtain Certified Nursing Assistant licenses.
Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board member Todd Nielsen also co-facilitated a presentation on utilizing data to inform decisions with Workforce Boulder County’s Barbara Larsen. The session discussed how data is gathered, interpreted, and used to better inform all stakeholders in the workforce ecosystem.
If you are a job seeker, connect with a Career Advisor here to discuss your job search needs. If you are a business, reach out to a Business Development Representative here to discuss your recruitment goals and/or to access up-to-date labor market information.
#LetsThinkBig #PlugIntoYourPassion #ThinkBIG2023
September Labor Supply/Demand Report
The labor supply/demand report presents information that can help businesses and job seekers better understand current economic and labor force trends.
New Hours, New Locations
Hybrid in-person & online services
Walk-ins are welcome, but workshops and other programs are still conveniently accessible online. Aurora office: M-Th 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Centennial office: T-F 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Oxford Vista: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. offices now open.