The Workforce Development Board’s mission is to “support a robust network that creates and promotes dynamic education systems, high-performing businesses, and a prosperous local economy with an abundance of high-quality jobs and skilled workers to fill them”.

A prosperous economy implies, and requires, that everyone is part of that prosperity. We do not and cannot do this in a vacuum, and unless we all benefit – no one benefits.

Often what we intend to do and what we actually accomplish are not aligned, and unless we are part of the solution we are part of the problem. We must be willing to look at our complacency and complicity in the structural racism and inequity that exists in each of our systems and organizations.

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) is not only willing but committed to being part of the solution. Toward that end, the WDB will be supporting and participating in several efforts to bring light and change to the issues surrounding race and equity in our system.

A Team of 5 Workforce Development Agencies received a grant from the State of California Workforce Accelerator Fund for a Project called Workforce Community Solutions.  The project is focused on breaking down workforce system silos to increase economic equity across the 3 county region (San Francisco, Alameda & Contra Costa Counties).

The project offers opportunities for workforce, education, asset development, justice, CBOs, businesses, philanthropy/government, and our partners to identify strategies to close the racial and gender income and wealth gaps for our most vulnerable community members.  To this end, we will hold a series of online regional events to share effective models and strategies, and increase collaboration and communication across the region.

2020 will be noted as one of the most important years in our county’s history. As we struggle with health, economic, race and equity pandemics, my hope is that we learn from our past and commit with all our hearts and energy to work towards creating an inclusive culture that supports equitable economic opportunity for everyone to not just survive but to thrive.   

Black Lives Matter

Say Their Names: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and on and on and on….

Donna Van Wert

Workforce Development Board Executive Director