Training for 911 Careers

The City of Minneapolis and partners have developed a training program for careers in 911 telecommunications. Hennepin, Anoka and Ramsey counties have partnered with HIRED and Hennepin County Technical College to offer the free course.

Students will learn core competencies for 911 telecommunications, including communication procedures, critical documentation, concepts in emergency situations, medical and safety dispatching, assessment, legal aspects, cultural awareness, and stress management. Job shadowing opportunities are also available to gain workplace exposure. Job shadowing opportunities will also be available.

Graduates may then apply to the partners who will work with their respective Human Resources teams to evaluate the candidates.

Potential candidates can learn more at an information session Aug. 10 or 22 and at www.hired.org/training/911telecommunications.

Minimum Wage Listening Sessions

The City of Minneapolis is hosting several listening sessions in coming weeks to gather feedback on a potential minimum wage policy for employers in the City of Minneapolis.

The City Council has directed City staff to present minimum wage policy recommendations mid-year after doing additional research and community engagement on the topic. The listening sessions will be an opportunity for community stakeholders to share viewpoints on how a change in the minimum wage would impact them.

Details will be posted at the City’s minimum wage webpage so check there to verify dates and times as additional listening sessions and details are confirmed. Upcoming meetings include:

• Tuesday, Feb. 7: Native American community, 5:30-7 p.m. All My Relations Gallery (Powwow Grounds), 1414 E. Franklin Ave.
• Tuesday, Feb. 14: Minneapolis Downtown Council and Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, 4-5:30 p.m. DID conference rooms (TBD)
• Wednesday, Feb. 15: African American community, 3-5 p.m. NEON, 1007 W. Broadway Ave.
• Tuesday, Feb. 21: general public, 6-7:30 p.m. Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.
• Thursday, Feb. 23: general public, 6-7:30 p.m. Urban League, main gathering room, 2100 Plymouth Ave.

All meetings are open to the public, though each will have a specific audience focus. Meeting organizers will use a variety of mechanisms to engage community participants and will have interpreters available. Questions and feedback on this issue can also be sent to MinWage@minneapolismn.gov.

The community engagement plan follows a presentation to the City Council’s Committee of the Whole in October 2016 by a research team presenting highlights of a study analyzing the relative impact of a local minimum wage increase in the City of Minneapolis and regionally in Hennepin County and Ramsey County. The study, led by the University of Minnesota’s Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Justice, examined the impact of increasing the wage to $12 and $15 per hour phased in over five years. 

People of color would disproportionally benefit from a wage increase

• Of Latino workers, 39 percent would benefit from an increase to $12/hour and 54 percent would benefit from an increase to $15/hour.
• Of black workers, 27 percent would benefit from an increase to $12/hour and 41 percent would benefit from an increase to $15/hour.
• Of white workers, 10 percent would benefit from an increase to $12/hour and 17 percent would benefit from an increase to $15/hour.

Urban Scholars Applications Open

The City of Minneapolis is once again offering its leadership development summer internship program for undergraduate and graduate students. Now in its sixth year, the Urban Scholars program aims to provide college students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds with resume-building professional work experiences. College students interested in applying for the summer internship program should apply online at www.minneapolismn.gov/urbanscholars by Saturday, Feb. 18. The 12-week program is a full-time paid internship experience that runs from May 22 to Aug. 11.

Interns will work in key areas of different City departments, including the Mayor’s Office and City Council offices, and with the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, the State of Minnesota, Greater Twin Cities United Way, and the Minneapolis Park Board. Scholars also participate in the Urban Scholars Leadership Institute for essential leadership and communications skills and focus on building networks, skills and opportunities. In the long run, the City and partners hope to develop young talent so the students can begin careers in the public sector and someday be the next generation of public service leaders.

Last year, 73 Urban Scholars interns were chosen from more than 500 applicants.

The Urban Scholars leadership development summer internship program is one component of the Equity Division of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights. Visit here for more information.

EMS Pathways Academy Student Internship Program

The EMS Pathways Academy is a partnership between the Minneapolis Fire Department, the Minneapolis Foundation, Hennepin County Medical Center, Project for Pride and Living, and other healthcare organizations. The goal is to provide a pipeline of diverse candidates for the Minneapolis Fire Department and the emergency medical workforce of our community. This student internship career pathway will target low-income, minority, male and female young adults of Minneapolis between the ages of 18-30, to be eligible to receive free Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and certification.

The training course is 11-13 weeks and participants are paid $15 per hour. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, be authorized to work in the United States, and will be required to pass a physical exam. Applications are being accepted Feb. 13 - Feb. 24. To apply, visit www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.

Now Accepting STEP-UP Summer Youth Employment Applications

The City of Minneapolis youth employment program STEP-UP has begun accepting applications for 2017 summer internship placements. Eligible Minneapolis residents ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2017 STEP-UP class have until Feb. 10 to complete an application online.

STEP-UP is one of the country’s premiere youth employment programs, serving Minneapolis youths who face some of the greatest barriers to employment. In addition to summer jobs with more than 230 top Twin Cities companies, nonprofits and public agencies, STEP-UP offers work readiness training, advanced-level internships and industry-specific career opportunities that help interns integrate their career exposure with post-secondary education and career planning.

Businesses, public agencies and nonprofits interested in employing interns in 2017 can find information on the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP website. STEP-UP is a City of Minneapolis program in partnership with AchieveMpls. Other partners include Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Project for Pride in Living.

To learn more about STEP-UP or apply online, visit the City of Minneapolis website. You can also follow STEP-UP on Twitter @STEPUPMpls or like it on Facebook.

2016 Minneapolis Teen Job & Opportunity Fair

The Minneapolis Teen Job & Opportunity Fair is a great opportunity for young people (14-19 years) to connect with employers and organizations that are offering jobs, internships, career education, job readiness training, and volunteer positions for teens.

Saturday, April 30, 2016, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall

Teens will also be able to attend workshops to learn about how to get a job. The fair is produced by City of Minneapolis' department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), Hennepin County, Hennepin County Library, AchieveMpls, Minneapolis Workforce Centers, Lunds and Byerly's, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minneapolis Youth Congress, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, EMERGE, and East Side Neighborhood Services. For registration information and more, visit http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/metp/MinneapolisTeenJobFair.

Workplace Partnership Group Listening Sessions

The Workplace Partnership Group, which is developing policy recommendations related to earned sick time and paid time off, wants to hear from employers, employees and the community. Over the coming weeks, the group will hold a series of community-based listening sessions to gain insights, concerns, perspectives, experiences, and suggestions from the public.

Jan. 13: Nonprofit/Social Sector employees and employers
3:30 – 5 p.m.
St. Mary’s University – Room 105, Br. Louis Hall
2304 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Jan. 14: Small business
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Bryant Lake Bowl
810 West Lake St.

Jan. 14: Downtown-based businesses
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Minneapolis Downtown Council, Skyline Conference Room
81 South Ninth St., Suite 260

Jan. 17: Hospitality/service industry
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Aster Café – River Room
125 SE Main St.

Jan. 20: GENERAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Jan. 21: GENERAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409

Jan. 28: Public health/health care
2 – 4 p.m.
Allina Commons
Pettingill Hall (lower level)

All listening sessions are open to the public, and time may be reserved at each session to accept public comments. Each session is hosted by a member or members of the Workplace Partnership Group. More listening sessions are being planned and will be added to the Workplace Partnership Group website once they are confirmed.

The Minneapolis City Council established the Workplace Partnership Group last fall as a working group specifically tasked with developing policy recommendations related to earned sick time and paid time off. The group will report its recommendations to the Committee of the Whole no later than Feb. 24, 2016.

STEP-UP Program Accepting Applications

The City of Minneapolis youth employment program STEP-UP is now accepting applications for 2016 summer interns. Eligible Minneapolis youths ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2016 STEP-IP class have until Feb. 5, 2016, to complete an application online.

STEP-UP is one of the country's premiere youth employment programs, serving Minneapolis youths who face some of the greatest barriers to employment. This includes youths from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, youths of color, youths from recent immigrant families, and youths with disabilities. In addition to summer jobs with more than 230 top Twin Cities companies, non-profits and public agencies, STEP-UP also offers work readiness training, advanced-level internships and industry-specific career opportunities that help interns integrate their career exposure with post-secondary education and career planning.

STPE-UP is a City of Minneapolis program in partnership with AchieveMpls, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Project for Pride in Living. To learn more about STEP-UP or to access the online STEP-UP application, visit the City of Minneapolis website.

2013 Urban Scholars Internship Program

The City of Minneapolis is once again offering its internship program for college students interested in public service careers. The program aims to help young people from diverse backgrounds build their skills for the future, with a focus on careers in public service. Last year eight Urban Scholars were chosen from more than 100 applicants to work in key areas of City government. Students who are enrolled and in good standing at a two- or four-year college or university are eligible to apply. They must also be a permanent resident of Minneapolis, although they can be attending a school anywhere, not just in Minnesota. The 12-week program is a full-time paid internship experience that runs from May 20 – Aug. 9. Interested students should apply online by Monday, March 25 at www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs/jobs_before.