D.C. Launches Pipeline Program to Bring HBCU Grads to Local Government
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Posted By: S. Moore on October 18, 2023 D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Wednesday announced the creation of a new pipeline program for graduates of two historically Black universities in the District to help them forge career paths in local government. The pipeline program, which will be available next year to graduating seniors of Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia, is intended to be mutually beneficial: The college graduates can springboard into a role in public service, while D.C. seeks to attract new talent, especially at a time the administration has struggled to fill certain rank-and-file vacancies. “What we learned is people come to D.C., they come to universities like Howard and UDC — and Johns Hopkins for that matter — because they want to be part of public service,” Bowser said. “They have a change-the world mind-set. … And we want people to know they don’t have to move away, they don’t have to work for a think tank, they don’t have to work for the feds. They can do that in local government.” Available to students graduating with bachelor’s degrees, the program will offer a one-year apprenticeship — a full-time position — to 25 eligible students, who will also be able to take a professional development course offered by the D.C. Department of Employment Services. Bowser made the announcement at the Bloomberg CityLab conference held at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, in the old Newseum building, where nationwide mayors converged to trade ideas on challenges their cities are facing. In D.C., that challenge is revitalizing downtown after the pandemic hollowed out the city core and as workers, federal and others, have been slow to return to many still-half-vacant office buildings — challenges Bowser addressed in a brief interview with Washington Post reporter Michael Brice-Saddler. “This is what every mayor knows, is that we’re not going to go back to 2019, so our downtowns won’t be exactly the same,” Bowser said. “Hybrid work is likely here to stay. And so what we have done in our economic development strategy is certainly focus and set some pretty big goals for the downtown.” One is to attract 15,000 new residents downtown, in part by converting vacant office buildings into housing, Bowser said. In July, the Downtown Business Improvement District noted approximately 18 conversion projects were in the works, and Bowser said Wednesday there are now 22. The city is expected to roll out a Downtown Action Plan later this fall describing a broader vision to attract both residents and commercial opportunities while creating more open public spaces. “We know that downtowns are the heart of any community, and they’re also the commercial part of the community. And that’s especially true for us in Washington, D.C. There are 185,000 jobs downtown, and the downtown economy, especially its property values, really drive what we’re able to do in the city.” Bowser described the new HBCU pipeline program in the context of trying to attract and retain not only new residents but also new D.C. employees. Her administration has struggled with retention issues across agencies and at multiple levels, as Bowser has had to appoint new deputy mayors for economic development and for public safety and a new police chief, among other top roles, over the past year due to turnover or resignations amid scandal. Among the rank-and-file, D.C. has been struggling to fill critical roles ranging from police officers to social workers to 911 call takers, though the mishap-plagued 911 call center has made progress with vacancies recently. It was not made immediately clear which specific agencies and roles may be available to the graduating students as part of the program. SOURCE Washington Post If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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