Skills for Change

== History ==

Skills for Change (SfC), established in 1982, is a not-for-profit organization located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has pioneered programs for internationally trained professionals seeking employment in their field.[1]

SfC specializes in the development and delivery of sector-specific employment preparation programs for highly skilled new immigrants. Through mentoring, professional partnerships, and skills, technology, language and career training, it supports and eases the labour market integration of skilled immigrants in a variety of professions.

Working in partnership with private sector companies, professional organizations, the provincial government, and new immigrants, SfC creates targeted training and mentoring opportunities that support and promote the labour market integration of skilled immigrants in a variety of professions.

Programs

SfC Offers multiple programs including Employment, Entrepreneurship, Women, Youth, Seniors, Mentoring, Trades, Sustainability, and Language Training.

The Skills for Change programs have had great success in supporting highly skilled and educated immigrant professionals in finding permanent employment directly related to their training, and in linking employers to an underutilized source of talent. [2]

History

Founded in 1982, Skills for Change is known for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. The first program, in 1983, was an office training program that successfully led all its first graduates, a group of women from Southeast Asia, into full-time employment.

Now a range of accelerated programs are offered to fit the needs of the people arriving from all parts of the world. Services offered include information and referral, French and English language assessment, English language instruction, integrated language/skills training, employment preparation, business skills, mentoring and settlement services.

Awards

Skills for Change has received the following recognition: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citation of Citizenship Award; Conference Board of Canada Community Learning Award; and Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Newcomer Champion Award.

Diversity At Work Conference

Skills for Change diversity@work is an annual professional conference dedicated to building inclusive and productive workplaces. The conference series evolved out of the efforts of the 2010 Leadership Panel composed of people who are passionate about creating innovative approaches to attracting the best new immigrants to workplaces in Canada. A dynamic presentation by the panel created the momentum for an annual conference, organized by Skills for Change.[3]

The January 2011 conference examined the future of diversity management and building “Workplace 3.0. Panellist Jennifer Lynn challenged us to ask the tough questions in 2011, and many participants asked, “What do we mean by “diversity” in today’s workplace?” [4]

Board Leadership

Currently SfC has two board Co-Chairs, Ms. Michelle Surace and Mrs Althea Gordon.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.skillsforchange.org
  2. ↑ http://www.skillsforchange.org
  3. ↑ http://www.diversityatwork.org
  4. ↑ http://www.diversityatwork.org/conference-advisory.html

External links