Inclusive Local Economies
2018 Toronto Sector Skills Academy Fellows Graduate
2019

On February 7, twenty-four Toronto Sector Skills Academy (TSSA) fellows celebrated their graduation. Drawn from across the Greater Toronto Area, the two dozen participants came from a wide range of backgrounds in workforce development, including workforce training intermediaries, labour, government, and community organizations.

They are the second cohort to graduate from Metcalf’s program since it was launched in 2016 in partnership with the U.S. based Aspen Institute. The TSSA grew out of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program’s Sector Skills Academy, a national leadership program with over 225 graduates. The TSSA leadership program is the first of its kind in Canada.

The goal of the TSSA is to strengthen and sustain sector strategies focused on improving economic outcomes for low-wage workers and low-income job seekers.

 

Metcalf President and CEO Sandy Houston welcomes graduates, guests, and TSSA alumni to the graduation ceremony. The TSSA reflects Metcalf’s funding philosophy by embracing diverse perspectives and having the courage to tackle tough issues.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Inclusive Local Economies Program Director Adriana Beemans outlines the history of the TSSA. It evolved out of the work of the Inclusive Local Economies Program.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

The 2018 TSSA fellows reflect on what they have accomplished over the last 10-months and the challenges they face ahead.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Aspen Economic Opportunity Senior Fellow Sheila Maguire addresses the graduates and congratulates them. The work they undertook was so innovative that it has influenced the teaching curriculum in the U.S. workforce leadership academies. TSSA graduates all become Aspen Economic Opportunity Fellows, joining a broader network of leaders.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

TSSA fellow, Costanza Allevato, Director, Community Resources, Social Development, Finance, and Administration at the City of Toronto, TSSA fellow Stefany Hanson, Manager, Youth Development, City of Toronto, and TSSA Fellow, Jodi O’Gorman, Vice-President, Public Partnerships, VPI Working Solutions, applaud Sheila.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

2018 TSSA graduate Andrew Reddin, VP, Partnerships, NPower Canada, talks about how he found a community of peers through the program. Fellows come from different parts of the system to learn together and build a stronger network.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Anne Jamieson, Senior Manager, Toronto Enterprise Fund, United Way of Greater Toronto enjoys a moment.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

As a policy leader in government, 2018 TSSA graduate and Director, Program Delivery Support Branch, Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Jacqueline Cureton reveals just how much she valued learning from other people in the program who are workforce practitioners.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

David Carter Whitney, Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division, Ministry of  Training, Colleges and Universities, and Rowena Power TSSA alumni and Director of Online Services at ACCES Employment enjoy hearing from their colleagues in workforce development.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

2018 TSSA graduate Gladys Okine and Executive Director, First Work: Ontario’s Youth Employment Network reminds the audience of the importance of working collaboratively and of fostering partnerships to address the systemic challenges that practitioners face in serving low-income and low-wage workers.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Guest speaker Jamison Steeve, Executive Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity stresses that the work undertaken by TSSA fellows in figuring out how to improve working conditions, job mobility, and wages for low-income and low-wage workers is one of the most important policy challenges society will face over the next 25 years.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Mary Baratta, Director of Toronto Employment and Social Services, City of Toronto, listens attentively.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Sandy Houston congratulates 2018 TSSA graduate George Okurapa, Manager, Employer Stakeholder Engagement, Toronto Employment & Social Services, while Sheila Maguire prepares to hand a diploma to the next graduate.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Following the graduation ceremony, Jodi O’Gorman hugs a colleague.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Graduates from both the first and second cohorts have an opportunity to mingle after the presentation.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

Gladys Okine and 2018 TSSA fellow Qazi Hasan, Manager Workforce Development, WoodGreen Community Services, kid around at the grad celebration.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek

The 3rd Toronto Sector Skills Academy will take place in 2020. Details will be announced on the TSSA program page.

Photo: Henry Vanderspek