This is a space dedicated to sharing updates from the Green Economy, Healthcare, and Tech Networks; reporting on goals and insights, relaying program openings and recruitment opportunities, and fostering cross-network collaboration.
Rebecca Lors, Healthcare Job Developer at St. Nicks Alliance, launched the Careers in Care Focus Groups with an overview of the Healthcare Sector Network (HSN) and its role in aligning workforce practice across partners. The session was co-facilitated by Maritza Lewis (not pictured), Manager, Health & Human Services at Goddard Riverside, bringing an intentional and compassionate approach to systems-level collaboration.
Centering the Voices of Young Adults
In January, the Healthcare Sector Network conducted focus groups with recent graduates to better understand the drivers and barriers facing the future workforce. Co-led by St. Nicks Alliance, Isaacs Center/Goddard Riverside, and JobsFirstNYC, the two sessions engaged 16 participants across three partner programs, garnering valuable insights from the young people of New York’s growing healthcare workforce.
Key Takeaways
- The “Hook” of Professional Pride: Young adults are deeply motivated by the “essential worker” identity and the long-term job security that healthcare offers, viewing entry-level roles as vital first steps toward nursing and advanced clinical careers.
- The “Accountability Gap”: Participants emphasized that in order to maintain momentum, job placement “urgency” must be a continuous priority throughout training rather than a post-graduation afterthought
- The Power of Cohort Energy: Peer dynamics are a primary driver of retention. A passionate, high-drive cohort can sustain a student through challenges, whereas negative group dynamics can significantly hinder success.
- Addressing Systemic Friction: Feedback pointed to the need for “Refresher Labs” or continued education to maintain clinical skills during the job search and the importance of streamlined onboarding to eliminate the “weeks of silence” between hiring and the first paycheck.
- Advocating for Human-Centered Needs: Participants identified childcare-aligned shifts and professional mentorship to navigate workplace culture as essential factors for staying and growing in the healthcare field.
The sessions were deeply inspiring and will shape the future of the HSN and the design of early career pathways and onramps across New York City’s healthcare systems. Thank you to our excellent facilitators and fearless graduates for two successful focus groups!
Green Economy Network
Aligning Training with Employer Demand
A new durable skills pilot is in the works between lead GEN partner Solar One and lead TSN partner Year Up United. Responding to the growing needs and challenges of recruiting a tech-enabled workforce for clean energy implementation, the expanded training approach will equip candidates with hard technical skills in HVAC, solar installation, green construction, and 21st century skills like digital literacy.
The GEN continues to serve as a critical bridge between local talent and the private sector through its active participation in the Energy Efficiency Employer Coalition, bringing workforce providers directly to the table with energy efficiency firms. Hosted by The Green Launchpad and NYCETC, this collaboration ensures that training curricula are co-designed to meet real-time industry standards and evolving labor market needs.
Recruiting and Employment Opportunities:
Green City Force: Recruiting for Cohort 30 (starting mid-March)
Congrats to the grads of Cohort 29 who graduated on January 30th!
The Hort: Recruiting for a Workforce Development Associate
St. Nicks Alliance: Recruiting for upcoming Spring plumbing and electrical training cohorts
Attend an info session on Wednesdays at 1PM
The Doe Fund: Recruiting for building operations roles and more!
Solar One: Hosting an Earth Day and Career Resource Fair Wednesday, April 22! Register to table here
Healthcare Sector Network
Elevating the Workforce as Infrastructure
The Healthcare Sector Network (HSN) has launched its storytelling campaign modeled after the signature Voices from the Frontline initiative. Released in 2025 by the GEN, this proprietary framework was designed by JobsFirstNYC and key partners to bridge the gap between frontline experience and systemic change. Adapting this model, the HSN will frame healthcare workforce development as critical infrastructure, translating the real-world impacts of industry consolidation and administrative burdens into a clear policy agenda for the workers essential to New York’s stability. Crucial to this effort are the HSN young adult focus groups, which serve as a vital primer for the campaign. These sessions provide the raw, unfiltered evidence needed to validate the narrative, ensuring the campaign is rooted in the current realities of those navigating the healthcare field.
To further support the Voices from the Frontline campaign with data-driven evidence, the JobsFirstNYC is facilitating Labor Market Information (LMI) training for HSN staff, and scouting April Expo venues at local hospital systems and colleges.
Recruiting and Employment Opportunities:
Phipps Neighborhoods: Recruiting for the Spring Career Network: Healthcare Track
Grace Institute: Applications for the Spring/Summer Cohort are open
STRIVE: Info Sessions for February Fresh Start and Future Leaders are in full swing
Multiple Career Coach and Employment Specialist roles open
Tech Sector Network
Growing Cross-Sector Relationships and Tech-Access
TSN continues to forge partnerships across sectors with new tech-enabled pilots with GEN partner Solar One and growing exploration into Healthcare Sector roles. Digital literacy is one of the most durable skills that learners can have in a volatile job market, and TSN is at the forefront of making cross-sector connections to set jobseekers up for success in any industry.
After months of perfecting and refining, The Knowledge House’s digitalpipeline.io has launched. TSN played a significant role in developing the platform with expert guidance and technical support from TKH developers. This marks a triumph in the “no wrong door” approach to workforce development training, making tech training accessible and centralized for New Yorkers. The platform will host TSN program information and allow users to search for best fit training and events by interest and eligibility. Congratulations to The Knowledge House and TSN!
Recruiting and Employment Opportunities:
Per Scholas:
New York Managing Director and Executive Director
IT Support Training Program (Commonpoint Queens; starts March 2)
The Knowledge House:
Marcy Lab School:
Fall 2026 Software Engineering and Data Analytics Cohorts (Round 2 applications open)
For more about Sector Networks, contact Malia Darby, Manager of Work Solutions at JobsFirstNYC via email at mdarby@jobsfirstnyc.org.