Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS)—the leading non-profit organization geared towards aligning individuals from underserved communities with transformative career opportunities—hosted its annual holiday celebration to further support its various mentoring and training programs and initiatives designed to create career pathways for individuals who face barriers to education and employment.
On December 6th, over 200 business leaders, supporters, and WOS program participants gathered at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey to reflect on the organization’s continued progress and commitment towards helping people from underrepresented groups launch and excel in their careers.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and was followed by opening remarks from Dr. Art Langer, Chairman & Founder, Workforce Opportunity Services. During his speech, Dr. Langer highlighted how his personal experiences while coming of age in the Bronx inspired him to create an organization like WOS. While reflecting on the strides that the organization has made—including serving over 1,800 individuals and establishing programs in over 40 locations throughout the country—he also took the opportunity to address the growing need for workforce development programs.
Gerald Goodfellow, United States Air Force Brigadier General and WOS Board member, delivered a poignant keynote address where he spoke about the importance of having business leaders use their platform to advocate and create opportunities for underserved individuals. As an active member of the military, he encouraged business leaders to look past the stereotypes and unconscious bias surrounding veterans and the importance of being more open to a talent pool of those who have served.
The event—which was sponsored by Prudential, Chubb, Johnson & Johnson and other companies— wrapped up with a brief panel of individuals who have benefited from WOS’ programs. They candidly shared their stories of adversity and illustrated how our programs helped them launch their professional careers. Tanika Miller, a young woman from New Jersey who had to drop out of college due to financial setbacks, shared how WOS not only aligned her with a life-changing career opportunity as a business analyst at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, but empowered her to thrive in the position where she has been awarded for her performance.
The entire evening was a true testament to how impactful a combined effort between nonprofits, major corporations, and educational institutions can be in the lives of those from underserved communities.
About Workforce Opportunity Services
Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS) is a next-generation 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that transforms early career professionals by cultivating their talents. We connect leading companies all over the world with a network of thousands of ready-to-work professionals who reflect diverse communities and customers. Our partners rely on us to recruit, educate, and train employees with the highest potential who will remain committed to their work over the long term.
Every day, we promote upward mobility, professional success, financial independence, and lifelong learning. We are experts in helping companies identify and assimilate the skills of veterans and underserved jobseekers. We offer hands-on support services to ensure that promising employees stay on a steady career path.
Based at Columbia University in New York City, our scientifically-based program offers cutting-edge research and analytics in partnership with top-tier academic institutions. Since our founding in 2005, we have partnered with more than 50 corporations in 35+ locations around the world. For more information, visit wforce.org.