1. Purpose.To announce an effort to collect photos and stories to illustrate the value of America's publicly funded Workforce Investment System.
2. Background.The public Workforce Investment System provides services to job seekers, employers, and communities. However, surveys show that stakeholders and the general public are frequently unaware of the system and the value of the services.
3. Overview.Stories and photos that help people understand the scope of the Workforce Investment System and its capacity to change people's lives will be used to increase awareness and appreciation through ETA-related publications such as the Workforce Investment Act Annual Report to Congress, the Department of Labor's Annual Performance Report, and on ETA's webpage.
States and local grantees, system operators, and service providers often collect photos and stories designed to show how employment and training programs and initiatives have impacted companies, communities, and individual customers. In addition to stories and photos about services provided to business and job seeker customers, submissions of stories and photos about other efforts to meet your community's workforce needs are encouraged. Some examples might include:
- Responses to relocations, mass layoffs, or disasters;
- Economic development efforts, including those that serve high growth industries;
- Partnerships with Chambers of Commerce, local governments, community-based organizations, community colleges, or school districts;
- Outreach efforts or service designs, including those for targeted populations such as out-of-school youth, individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency, homeless individuals, older workers, or migrant and seasonal farmworkers;
- Leveraging resources and use of volunteers; or
- Initiatives resulting in enhanced customer experiences.
This is a separate effort from ETA's Recognition of Excellence which is a performance based system of recognition. Through that effort, high levels of success in five separate categories will be acknowledged and shared with the Workforce Investment System at the Workforce Innovations Conference as described in a separate Training and Employment Notice (Number 17-03).
4. Eligibility.This opportunity is open to anyone who wants to share information about America's publicly funded workforce system. Individuals or agencies are eligible to submit photos and accompanying stories.
5. Guidelines.
- Photos and stories should portray activities that occurred during or after Calendar Year 2003.
- Photos may be color or black and white. Photos should be "action shots" with subjects (people, places, or things) telling a story about the workforce system. Photos should be a minimum of 3 x 5 inches and no larger than 8 x 10 inches. For publication purposes, digital photos should be at least 325 dpi.
- The stories accompanying the photos should describe the workforce situation, problem, or need that was being addressed; what services or activities were undertaken; and the resulting outcomes or benefits. Stories should not exceed 250 words in length.
- Photos should not be mounted or have any photographer identification on the front of the photo.
- Photos and stories will not be returned and will become the property of the Department of Labor (DOL) and may be used for any purpose that relates to the Department's mission or function.
- Submissions should include the photo (labeled as indicated on the submission form), the accompanying story, and the official Workforce Investment System Showcase Submission and Release Form (see Attachment A). If individuals are recognizable within the photo, a signed Subject Photo Release Form also must be included for each recognizable person in the photo submission (see Attachment B). A parent or guardian for the individual must sign the photo release form for persons under 21 years of age. No submissions can be used without the required release form(s).
- The photos and stories may be submitted either electronically to the DOL contractor at malaw528@aol.com or mailed to the Center for Workforce Learning, Attn: Workforce Investment System Showcase, 6361 Timberbluff Circle, Avon, IN 46123.
6. Action Requested. Please make this information available to appropriate program staff.
7. Inquiry. Questions should be directed to Mary Ann Lawrence at the Center for Workforce Learning, via e-mail malaw528@aol.com or telephone (317) 838-5487.
8. Attachments.
Attachment A: Submission and Release Form
Attachment B: Photo Release Form