Towards Employment

Towards Employment
Name	Towards Employment
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1964
Location	Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Key people	Linda Doll, Shari I. Lyon, Jack Blanchard
Focus	Workforce development, job training, employment services

Towards Employment is a Cleveland-based nonprofit workforce development organization focused on connecting residents of Cuyahoga County and surrounding regions with employment opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and information technology. Founded in the mid-20th century, the organization operates job training programs, career coaching, and employer engagement initiatives designed to reduce barriers to work for underserved populations. Through partnerships with local institutions, municipal entities, philanthropic foundations, and private employers, it aims to improve employment outcomes and support regional labor market needs.

History

Towards Employment was established during a period of urban revitalization and social service expansion in Cleveland, Ohio, drawing on models promoted by the Economic Opportunity Act era programs and community action initiatives. Over decades the organization has navigated shifts in regional industry composition from heavy industry to healthcare and services, aligning programs with employment trends observed in sources like Bureau of Labor Statistics regional data and workforce planning reports from the Cleveland Foundation and Greater Cleveland Partnership. Leadership transitions have included executive directors who engaged with municipal administrations such as the office of the Mayor of Cleveland and county agencies including Cuyahoga County workforce boards. The organization has been involved in federally funded initiatives connected to statutes like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and collaborated with entities including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and sector intermediaries such as the Manufacturers’ Association of the region.

Mission and Programs

The stated mission emphasizes removing barriers to employment and aligning training with employer demand in priority sectors exemplified by partners like Cleveland Clinic, Summa Health System, and regional manufacturers represented by the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network. Programmatic offerings have targeted occupations tied to credentials like Certified Nursing Assistant certifications and construction trade apprenticeships recognized by the Department of Labor (United States). Initiatives have included sector-based training cohorts, transitional employment pilot projects modeled after practices seen at Year Up and STRIVE International, and support services such as transportation assistance and public benefits navigation in coordination with agencies like the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Training and Services

Towards Employment delivers pre-employment readiness curricula, occupational training, employer engagement, and case management services akin to models used by National Fund for Workforce Solutions partners. Training pathways have addressed occupational areas linked to regional labor demand measured by the Ohio Labor Market Information system, with cohorts preparing for roles in healthcare with clinical placements at MetroHealth System, in advanced manufacturing with internships at companies such as KeyBank corporate suppliers, and in information technology with bootcamps influenced by programs at institutions like Cleveland State University. Support services include individualized career coaching, résumé development, interview preparation, skills assessment, and coordination of supportive resources through collaborations with nonprofit partners such as United Way of Greater Cleveland and community colleges like Cuyahoga Community College.

Partnerships and Funding

The organization’s funding mix has historically combined grants from philanthropic institutions such as the George Gund Foundation and the Kresge Foundation, government contracts from entities including the City of Cleveland and federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, and fees-for-service from employer partners like Cleveland Clinic and regional manufacturers. Strategic partnerships include workforce boards like the OhioMeansJobs system and intermediary collaboratives such as the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board. Collaborations with postsecondary institutions—Case Western Reserve University, Lakeland Community College—and labor organizations, including local chapters of the Service Employees International Union and building trades councils, support credentialing, apprenticeship placement, and employer-engaged curriculum development.

Impact and Evaluation

Outcome measurement has emphasized placement rates, retention metrics at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals, and wage gains, following evaluation frameworks used by organizations like MDRC and the American Institutes for Research. Independent evaluations and internal reports have tracked participant demographics, barriers to work, credential attainment, and employer satisfaction; impact assessments reference regional labor statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and program evaluation standards promoted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Case studies highlight placements in healthcare systems such as University Hospitals and manufacturing employers represented by the Manufacturers’ Association, with metrics comparing participant wages to local median income benchmarks reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Controversies and Criticism

Critiques and controversies have centered on standard sector-focused workforce debates seen nationally: questions about long-term wage mobility, scalability of cohort models, and dependency on short-term grant funding common to organizations studied by entities like Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. Stakeholders have raised concerns about program accessibility for justice-impacted populations and alignment of training with living-wage employment, debates mirrored in reports from The Center for Community Solutions and advocacy groups such as Policy Matters Ohio. Operational criticisms have included calls for greater transparency in outcome reporting and suggestions to deepen employer commitments to advancement pathways, issues frequently discussed at convenings hosted by National Skills Coalition and workforce policy forums convened by regional partners including the Cleveland Leadership Center.

Category:Organizations based in Cleveland, Ohio