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Orientation
Description
The Intermediary Network is a national association of leading education and workforce development organizations working in local communities to ensure the success of youth.
Description
Network members connect schools, communities and employers to improve education and build a future workforce.
Members also convene local organizations doing similar work to maximize resources and effort.
“Somehow, we need to reconnect the schools to the workplace so that educators and employers are working together toward mutual goals. The solution lies in greater, more organized collaboration.”
Danny RowlandCharleston MarineManufacturing CorporationCharleston, SC
Mission
National peer network of intermediary organizations
Connect with each other to:
Share best practices; Provide learning opportunities; Promote staff development; and Ensure long term sustainability.
Key Dates and Decisions
History
Four Broad Phases
STW Intermediary Project
Transition
Independent Network Planning
Independent Network
Project Phase
October 1998 - March 2000
Central component of the School-to-Work Intermediary Project
Functions defined, tools developed Sites apply and are selected for
membership Technical assistance, training and
support Local strategic planning Project research
Transition Phase
March 2000 – June 2001
Network members take an active role in shaping priorities and activities
Work groups inform policy development, data and evaluation
Plan gatherings of the Network Partners provide guidance,
technical assistance and management support.
Network Planning Phase
June 2001 – April 2002
Network ownership of strategic agenda to ensure Network sustainability
Network Leadership committee develops draft business plan
Network members contribute dollars to support the plan’s development
Network members help plan events New Ways and JFF provide support
Independent Network PhaseApril 2002 - Present
Network launched with the support of 26 members
Business Plan, Budget, Marketing Plan adopted
Workgroups formalized Annual Work plan adopted New Ways provides support as
facilitating partner
Network Activities
Network Gatherings Spring Institute, April 2002, Cincinnati Leadership Meeting, July 2002,
Palm Springs Leadership Forum, October 2002,
Chicago Annual Spring Institute, April 2003,
New Orleans Annual Leadership Forum, October
2003, Atlanta Annual Spring Institute, April 2004,
Las Vegas
Why? What
Workplace
Partners
Schools and
CBO’s
Why? What
WorkplacePartners
Schools and CBO’s
Why? WhatConfusing and Competing
Connections
Why? WhatCoordinated System
Through an Intermediary Structure
Strategic Intermediary
Functions
Convene local leadership to take collective action
Connect classroom and workplace experiences that lead to college and career, and broker services to schools and workplace partners
Measure results to improve the quality of local efforts
Sustain successful practices through supportive public policy
Operational Intermediary
Functions
Employers and Workplace Partners
Create demand Provide services to address needs
Schools and Youth Organizations Build awareness and buy-in Provide services to support
involvement
Operational Intermediary
FunctionsYouth Connect to appropriate quality
experiences Promote and improve the quality of
work-based learning
All Partners Provide the communications link Create a system focused on quality
and continuous improvement
Continuous Improvement
Network members engage in a continuous improvement process to deliver high quality services to youth, schools and workplace partners.
The Networkin Action
Promotes the importance of intermediary organizations on the public policy agenda.
Establishes and maintains quality standards for intermediaries and their staff.
The Networkin Action
Provides state-of-the-art professional and leadership development opportunities through a facilitated network of the top practitioners in the country.
Represents the collective voice of organizations and individuals performing intermediary functions.
Benefits
Participation in a self-governed community of leaders in your field
Collective policy voice Leadership and staff
development opportunities Technical assistance, timely
information and proven tools New funding and project
opportunities
Value
Much of the value of participation in the network comes from the interchange of ideas, and the sharing of challenges and solutions among members.
Who are Members?
School-to-Work Partnerships Youth Councils Workforce Investment Boards Chambers of Commerce Local Education Foundations Non-Profit Organizations Business-Education Partnerships Industry Associations Other organizations performing
intermediary functions
Where are Members?
Current Members
Achieve! Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN)*Boston Private Industry Council (Boston, MA)*Capital Area Training Foundation (Austin,TX)*
Career Builders (Baton Rouge, LA)*Community Education Coalition, Inc. (Connersville, IN)*
Consortium for Education, Research & Technology of North Louisiana (CERT) (Shreveport, LA)
The Education Foundation (Charleston, SC)*The EdVenture Group (Morgantown, WV)
KentuckianaWorks (Louisville, KY)*LEED-Sacramento (Sacramento, CA)*
* Founding Member
Current Members
Linking Learning to Life (Burlington, VT)*Merced County School-to-Career Partnership (Merced,
CA) MY TURN, Inc. (Brockton, MA)*
New York Citywide STW Alliance (New York, NY)*Northeast Indiana WIB/Youth Council (Fort Wayne, IN)*
Philadelphia Youth Network (Philadelphia, PA)*San Diego Workforce Partnership (San Diego, CA)*
School-to-Career, Inc. (New Orleans, LA)*The Workplace Learning Connection (Cedar Rapids, IA)*
UNITE-LA (Los Angeles, CA)*
* Founding Member
Affiliate Members
National Academy Foundation
Louisiana Office of the Governor
Pennsylvania Dept. of Education
Membership Process
Prospective members complete an application describing their organization, its structure and staffing and the Intermediary Functions they perform.
Current members conduct a peer review process of the application.
Acceptance is based on meeting and demonstrating a commitment to meeting member responsibilities.
AREYOU
IN?
Management Structure
Leadership Committee Workgroups (Data & Evaluation,
Marketing & Membership, Resource & Policy)
Chair and fiscal agent: Boston PIC Facilitating partner: New Ways to
Work Research and policy support: JFF &
Keep the Change, Inc.
Member Responsibilities
Annual dues/investments
Participation in annual Intermediary Institutes
Participation in team leader meetings
Common data collection
Active participation in network work groups
Sharing tools, materials, strategies and peer advice
Member Activities
Annual Spring Institute Fall Leadership Forum Topical Workgroup Calls Content Calls (cross network) Resource Updates Email dialogues Ad Hoc site visits Connections at other events
Products
Intermediary Guidebook
Intermediary Frameworks
Issue Briefs
Assessment and planning tools
Fact sheets and case studies
Network member tools and best practices
Website
www.intermediarynetwork.org
Products Tools and frameworks Resource Links Workgroup call schedules Calendar Member listings and contact
information Meeting notes and materials
“The Intermediary Network and its Institutes have catapulted our partnership into the future. Our participation has helped us define ourselves as an effective intermediary and refine our strategies for linking business and education to benefit our students.”
Susan BurgeSchool-to-Career, Inc. New Orleans, LA
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