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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202/219-7317 x117
As part of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, Secretary
of Labor Alexis M. Herman met yesterday with presidents of more than 50 of the
country's leading African American institutions of higher learning to focus on
ways the Labor Department and the schools can work together to help reverse
high unemployment among black youth and to ease the transition of people from
welfare to work.
"Together we must actively pursue solutions to the problems that have
devastated the lives of too many young African Americans," said Herman. "Today
we join--not just for dialogue--but to create a team and strategy to end these
problems."
Herman called the meeting to focus on ways the Labor Department can
partner with the schools in order to broaden the nation's economic prosperity
to include African American youth. After a roundtable discussion with the
presidents about existing strategies employed by the colleges in their
communities, Herman announced a three-pronged follow-up plan. She announced the
formation of a Historically Black Colleges and Universities working group that
would inventory existing programs on campuses that address black youth
unemployment, welfare to work and job training.
Herman directed DOL staff to confer with the presidents on shaping the
program design currently under development for the welfare to work initiative.
And she challenged HBCUs to explore the possibility of creating America's Job
Bank access zones on their campuses modeled after the ones created by America's
community colleges.
"The college presidents head institutions where the problems discussed
today are at their door," said Catherine LeBlanc, Executive Director of the
White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. "We
have a responsive relationship with the Labor Department, and today's meeting
indicates Secretary Herman's commitment to find such solutions."
Herman called the strategy session to explore ways the Labor Department
can bolster President Clinton's commitment to the long-term viability and
enhancement of HBCUs. The President signed an executive order in 1993 that
directs the Administration to engage in partnerships with HBCUs and seek
private-sector involvement in strengthening them.
In 1994, the Department of Labor signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with HBCUs to develop plans that increase the participation of the
schools in DOL-sponsored areas of research, technical assistance and
advancement through contracts, grants and career opportunities. The Labor
Department has since committed over $12 million to HBCUs as part of this
effort.
Herman and members of the group announced they will reconvene after a
working group session assesses the next steps.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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