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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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