Employing seasoned Connecticut professionals and strengthening the state’s nonprofit sector are the goals of Encore!Hartford, a new workforce development program being offered in Greater Hartford beginning March 2.
The intensive 16-week program was designed by the University of Connecticut’s Nonprofit Leadership Program in partnership with several key Connecticut agencies, including Leadership Greater Hartford, the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, Capital Workforce Partners, and the Connecticut Department of Labor.
Encore!Hartford provides education, field training, and skill-set transition guidance for seasoned Connecticut corporate and public-service professionals seeking to transfer their expertise to professional and managerial positions in the nonprofit sector.
Applications for 20 Encore Fellowships available through the program are being accepted through Feb. 12. Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive selection process based on applicants’ skills and potential for success in the nonprofit sector.
The program begins in March and runs through early June. The fee is $2,250. For more information and to apply, go to the Encore!Hartford website.
“Encore!Hartford is designed to address two critical needs: reducing unemployment in the Connecticut professional sector and increasing the capacity of Connecticut nonprofits,” says David Garvey, director of UConn’s Nonprofit Leadership Program. “Mid-career and traditional-retirement-age corporate and government professionals are seeking purposeful work that provides a salary, but that also contributes back to society. Many of these ‘encore careers’ are in the nonprofit sector. National and Connecticut studies show that these individuals desire educational support to make the transition. Encore!Hartford provides that training.”
Encore!Hartford has three core components:
Education—Forty-four hours of professional and managerial skill-set transition education in nonprofit leadership, finance, and business management.
Job Shadowing—Two job-shadowing days with nonprofit professionals in jobs relevant to the aspirations of the Encore Fellow.
Encore Fellowship— A two-month Encore Fellowship at a Greater Hartford nonprofit. Encore Fellows will be assigned to a high-level project with a nonprofit within their desired field in order to develop the networks and skill-sets necessary to be successful in their encore careers.
Encore!Hartford is the pilot program of Encore!Connecticut. The collaborative multi-agency initiative has been in design for two years. Capital Workforce Partners has committed funding for 10 participants to join the program through the use of federal dislocated worker training funds.
“The Encore Project in Hartford will serve a critical population in our region –that which represents the middle income, middle management, dislocated worker,” says Pamela J. Nabors, director of One Stop Services at Capital Workforce Partners. “Many of these individuals are looking to change careers and not only achieve stable employment, but also utilize their skills and talents in a service setting.”
A November 2009 survey of Greater Hartford nonprofits conducted by the University’s Nonprofit Leadership Program and the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits found that due to expectations for increased service needs and the continued retirement of baby boomer generation workers, 77 percent of Greater Hartford nonprofits expect to hire a manager or specialized professional in the next year, and 85 percent anticipate hiring within two years.
“Individuals from the for-profit sector moving into second careers in the nonprofit-sector are only going to add to the quality of services that our nonprofits provide,” said Paula Gilberto, senior vice president at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Inc. “I think it’s a great way to strengthen the effectiveness of nonprofit services and leadership.”
Ron Cretaro, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, says, “This program provides the opportunity for people to enrich their careers by continuing to work for the public good. It also helps extend the resources of nonprofits.”
For more information:
Colin Poitras (860) 486-4656
Linda Friedman (860) 486-9318
