By Shannon Holmes
July 12, 2004

In an effort to see how mayors' workforce directors can more closely work with The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) on workforce and economic development issues, Workforce Development Council (WDC) members met with Bob Giloth, Director of Family Economic Success at AECF, for a day long meeting at the Longwood Medical and Academic Area (LMA).

Dr. Gary Gottlieb, President and CEO of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Chair of the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Workforce Committee, informed WDC that there is an enormous healthcare worker shortage and that in the Boston area there is huge competition for qualified staff. "As head of the hospital, I want to help Mayor Menino build up the city community by community, creating pride in those communities," stated Dr. Gottlieb.

In a panel moderated by Conny Doty, Director Jobs and Community Services for the City of Boston, Bob Giloth; Angel Bermudez, Director of Grantmaking for The Boston Foundation; and Jennifer James, Deputy Director of Workforce Development for the State of Massachusetts discussed the unique collaboration of the city, state, and various national and local foundations to form The Boston Foundation and the role it plays in workforce development in the greater Boston area, particularly at the LMA.

Nancy Snyder, Deputy for Workforce Development of the Boston Private Industry Council moderated a panel on the medical related training programs that have been developed at the LMA. The panel included Sarah Griffin, Director of Special Initiatives Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation; Cynthia Briggs, Director of Partners Workforce Project and Harriet Tolpin, Consultant for Partners Workforce Project at Partners Health Care.