The Workforce and Community Development (WCD) team at Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) takes a holistic approach to help people build their careers. We support members of the community to obtain and maintain employment and build small businesses. We aid our community with career exploration by identifying their most fulfilling career aspirations. We are a bridge between community needs and resources to help our customers secure a sustainable future.
As workforce team members, we recognize the importance of having time to focus on building a career. Career sustainability is essential to meeting basic psychological needs and overall well-being. Our goal is to help our customers achieve their full potential by providing them with guidance and career-related resources.
As a team, we have created this microsite to extend our programming and library's strategic framework. We want to ensure that we have those resources in place to help customers meet their basic needs. We also outlined career-focused resources for customers to support them in their journey towards a lasting career.
Networking and Partnership: Zachary Jones
Organizational Development and Team: Jaleen Walker
Youth and Technology Outreach: Yassin Kargbo
Accessibility Services
Adult Education & Workshop Materials
English Language Learners
Re-entry and Legal Services
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Social Services (Job Retention)
Technology and Computer Skills
Veterans and Military Services
Youth Career Development
The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) received a national award for innovation from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) on Friday, January 21. Named the top innovator in U.S. and Canadian public libraries for “Creating a Workforce Ecosystem” in 2021, PGCMLS workforce and community development programs provide comprehensive job readiness resources, programs, and support for Prince George’s County residents. These programs are made possible in collaboration with partners like Employ Prince George’s, PGCMLS Foundation, University of Maryland, Center for Technology Access and Training (CETAT), Maryland State Library, and Capital One.
The WCD team is broken up into ten subgroups, which were formed to tackle all areas of workforce development from a holistic perspective. Essentially, for a person to be successful in the workforce to sustain employment, they may need support from one or more of the following areas. The Workforce & Community Development team has specialized skills and experience, which equips them to provide customers with workforce-related programming and assistance with information, training, education, and resources to locate and secure employment.
Accessibility Services: This subgroup works on creating an environment for people with special needs seeking employment services. We provide programming and connect them to resources that can give support to promote their success in the workforce.
Adult Education & Workshop Materials: This subgroup focuses on creating an environment where career-seeking adults receive education, guidance, and training to increase job readiness. We help identify career interests and provide support through applied techniques and designed workshops
Career Exploration: This subgroup creates virtual programming to meet with individuals in the community about their careers and their steps to pursue their goals. The career chats discuss workforce development with organizations about the resources they have to offer community members to assist them with their career journey. This programming's focus gives customers an inside look into what it is like to be in a particular career field.
English Language Learners: This subgroup provides programming connecting Spanish-speaking job seekers to information and services with Spanish-only programs or bilingual programs. We collaborate with local non-profits such as CASA, a non-profit that provides legal, educational, health, and job-seeking services for immigrants in the DMV area.
Re-entry and Legal Services: This subgroup assists community members who experience career barriers due to incarceration or other legal issues. We provide valuable information, training, social services, and educational resources to those currently incarcerated, in release centers, and are involved with the local justice probation system.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship: This subgroup works to create programming focused on developing and growing small businesses. We also work to create programming and engaging social media content to gauge community member interests.
Social Services (Job Retention): This subgroup focuses on helping clients develop and maintain good job retention habits. We help clients enhance applied and soft skills to increase their employability and meet employers' expectations and needs through resources and programming.
Technology and Computer Skills: This subgroup focuses on providing programming to increase computer literacy and training to the community. We also work with the Digital Services department to create our brand-specific microsite that serves as our virtual connection and provides both PGCMLS staff and the public access to our job-related resources, programming, and partners.
Veteran Employment Services: This subgroup focuses on providing career services and resources to meet the veteran community's unique needs. We offer guidance and information to help veterans receive work-related skills to transition to civilian occupations.
Youth Career Development: This subgroup supports our community's youth by providing access to workforce resources, job skills, and training. We help youth's progression through developmental opportunities and activities and assist in navigating their career paths. The passion behind constructing and implementing this subgroup was to inspire the next generation of leaders.
The Strategic Planning Team created areas of the Strategic Plan to build around and designated project managers for each portion. A program management team was established. A team leader was assigned who selected a group of staff with a passion for workforce and community development to form the team.
COVID-19 allowed the group to pivot and create content virtual programs regarding Workforce & Community Development and Career Kickstart Quick Tip Video Series. A liaison was selected to maintain communication between Employ Prince George's and the Prince George's County Memorial Library System. The chosen staff met to begin the development of the Workforce & Community Development Team and reconnected with community partners and collaborators addressing workforce needs in Prince George's County.
The Workforce & Community Development Team (WCD) met and identified our executive champions within the Prince George's County Memorial Library System. Executives joined the team in meeting with the CEO of Employ P.G. to demonstrate the resources offered by our partner and discuss how the two groups could work together to benefit the community. Also, preliminary discussions were held to create Career Kickstart virtually as a program in partnership with Employ P.G.
The Workforce & Community Development Team began holding weekly meetings. Targeted areas and subgroups identified. Team representatives took on the task of Career Chats programming. The team started discussions about the visibility and agreed that either a webpage or a designated portion of the PGCMLS website should be created for the sole focus of workforce & community development. WCD was given a budget to begin initiatives beneficial to strengthening the team's foundation. The main focus was on certifications and the growth of a career center within branches, with Beltsville being selected as the initial site.
Start of Phase 1 Reopening Plan (COVID-19). WCD presents microsite templates to executive champions. EPG curriculum staff begins progress to make Career Kickstart Virtual in collaboration with WCD for review. WCD meets with the Digital Services Team to present ideas for microsite design and collaborate to move forward.
Drafts of the Career Kickstart Virtual series received from EPG and shared with WCD to review and send recommendations. WCD meets with the Central American Solidarity Association (CASA) to collaborate in providing services and programming to the local community. WCD plans to take certification training from TAD Grants career development.
WCD meets with the Department of Corrections to develop training and programming for Community Release Center (CRC) residents and County Correctional Center (CCC). WCD meets with Maryland Legal Aid to discuss virtual programming options tailored to the library community.
WCD panelists register to present at the MLA 2021 virtual conference for workforce development. WCD staff begin TAD Grants career development certification training. WCD meets with Creative Services to discuss social media presence. WCD presents at MLA Programming and Outreach Showcase.
Career Kickstart Virtual begins in partnership with EPG. WCD establishes a relationship with Prince George's Community College (PGCC). WCD meets with Creative Services regarding microsite creation. During Global Entrepreneurship Week, WCD presents PGCMLS Communication & Outreach with the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation.
WCD logo finalized. WDC meets with You First Health System to discuss how to assist returning citizens with workforce development skills and mental health services. WCD partners with Six Flags America. PGCC attends meetings to share information about recruitment, admissions, programs, and coursework. WCD completes the TAD Grants certification training program in facilitating career development.
PGCMLS’s Workforce & Community Development Team takes a holistic approach to helping people build their careers. We support members of the community to obtain and maintain employment and build small businesses. We aid our community with career exploration to identify their most fulfilling career aspirations. It means being the bridge the community needs and resources to secure a sustainable future.
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