Workshop CategoriesBased on input from national partners and feedback from previous Forum evaluations, UnidosUS has identified the following workshop categories for the 2019 Forum. Organizations are encouraged to present workshops in one of the categories listed below. If your idea does not fit into one of the categories, please note it in your application.
- Taking your Program to the Next Level
Immigrant and Latino serving organizations are exploring innovative new models to provide services to their clients, including blended learning, contextualized or vocational ESL, partnerships with higher education institutions, competency-based models, and offering stackable credentials as a pathway to middle-skills jobs. Workshops in this Category will showcase the effective implementation of successful program models that advance education and training for members of our communities and support their transition into jobs with long-term growth potential.
Automatization and other technological advancements are changing the landscape of many industries across the nation. Workshops in this Category will focus on programs that are implementing creative adaptations to prepare community members with the skills and tools that they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing workplace.
- Innovative Employment Opportunities
Entrepreneurship, small business development, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, worker cooperatives, transitional employment, and the gig economy are all nontraditional avenues that support job creation and contributions to the U.S. economy. Workshops in this Category will help the audience understand how they can create programs that are alternative to the traditional career-pathways model.
- Integrated Service Delivery
Many of today’s workers and their families face multiple barriers to gainful employment and financial prosperity. Organizations that provide a range of holistic services under one roof, either through a multi-generational approach or an otherwise integrated manner, can better meet the needs of their clients. Workshops in this Category will exemplify service integration models that simplify and facilitate client access to benefits and services, such as: early childhood education, financial capability, housing, transportation, mental and behavioral health services, and legal services.
- Workforce Programs and Policy Solutions
Workforce development encompasses numerous programs and funding streams guided by a wide range of local, state, and federal agencies and policies. Workshops in this Category will spotlight how policy solutions have addressed system fragmentation, improved employer engagement, and closed gaps in services for Latino and immigrant workers. Workshops in the Category will also touch upon strategies to expand and replicate programs via blended funding streams, fee-for-service models, and using data to garner program support.