RISE Partnership’s Post

On Thursday, apprentices in the Long-Term CareWorks Certified Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship were treated to a luncheon at Park Forest Care Center, a skilled nursing facility in Portland, OR. Attended by apprenticeship instructors, facility staff, and benefits navigators, apprentices used this time to ask questions and learn about their new careers. Learn more about how Long-Term CareWorks and other RISE programs are supporting long-term care workers across Oregon at risepartnership.com

Meet Caitlyn (left) and Ron (right)! Caitlyn is a recent graduate of RISE’s Long-Term CareWorks CNA Apprenticeship. This first-of-its-kind program (led by Michelle Sanders) provides mentorship and support to help new certified nursing assistants like Caitlyn thrive in their skilled nursing career. Learn more about how RISE program Long-Term CareWorks is providing free training to new CNAs across Oregon at longtermcareworks.org. And keep your eyes peeled for more essential worker stories from RISE Partnership soon!

"I felt for the first time in my career the potential for advancement." Uplift Oregon, a program of RISE Partnership, recently launched a pilot of a first-of-its-kind career mobility program. This worker- and equity-centered initiative recruits State of Oregon employees who are looking for a career change, and provides the education and ongoing support they need to transition into in hard-to-fill positions in areas like Accounting or Tax Auditing. Like Whitney Johnson, the program manager, likes to say, "When labor and management come together to solve big challenges in workforce development, good things happen!" We're honored to support our first cohort of 30 state employees as they work toward their career goals, and thrilled to partner with SEIU Local 503, the State of Oregon, and Western Oregon University to bring this innovative program to life! https://lnkd.in/gCppmv4e

Today the RISE family is grieving the loss of one of our strongest, most passionate leaders. Patricia Richards will be sorely missed. As our Executive Director Brian Rudiger commemorated to our team today, "Patsy moved from Alabama to Portland in February 2020 to begin RISE’s Long-Term CareWorks program. Most people would shy away from the challenge of moving cross-country to start a brand-new program in a start-up organization during a global pandemic. But Patsy was not 'most people.' She leaned in and tirelessly, passionately worked to better the lives of Oregonians wanting a fresh start and career path in long-term care. "To those of us who knew her well, the loss of Patsy’s wisdom, humor, and friendship leaves a hole that cannot be filled. Yet we know her legacy lives on in the people she touched. Last week, I was honored to meet with several CNA apprentices whose work was made possible due to Patsy’s work. In story after story, it was clear that Patsy’s legacy will carry on in those workers: one of whom shared that caregiving was a calling to her, and that the CNA apprenticeship made it possible for her to 'change the trajectory of [her] life.' "The world is a better place because of Patsy’s work, and a lesser one because of her absence. We will miss her terribly."

Such an honor to host DOL Acting Secretary Julie Su, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and Darnice Marsh in Portland today to discuss the power of Labor-Management Partnerships to transform healthcare! As Brian Rudiger likes to say, “In a time of historic labor strife, labor-management partnerships are a space where union workers and employers can collaborate to help everyone succeed.” We couldn’t agree more.

In 2023, RISE served over 30,000 public sector workers with outstanding training, education, and benefit navigation. By collaborating with unions, responsible employers, and the State of Oregon, we give workers the support they need to RISE in their career. Learn more about our impact in the 2023 RISE Partnership Annual Report.

**Position has been filled** RISE Partnership is #hiring! We are looking for a Recruitment and Onboarding Specialist to help grow our team. If you are invested in DEIJ and want to be part of an organization that supports essential workers, we want to talk to you! Apply now. https://lnkd.in/gkZSTpxf

**Position has been filled** Are you interested in supporting the accounting operations of an organization that is committed to creating equitable workforce solutions for Oregon's public employees? RISE is #hiring a Controller to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, streamline accounting processes, and foster effective communication. Learn more and apply below.