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Workforce Development Board Chair Wants to Extend Youth Opportunities

Advocates in California committed to improving the skills of individuals to meet the human resource needs of the state want to see more diversity among young people joining the workforce. Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chair of the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), says he’s proud of the work his office has done to connect young people from diverse backgrounds to opportunities in various fields — but more needs to be done.

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2023

Oakland Post

Dr. Angelo Farooq, California Workforce Development chair. Courtesy CBM

By Max Elramsisy
California Black Media

Advocates in California committed to improving the skills of individuals to meet the human resource needs of the state want to see more diversity among young people joining the workforce.

Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chair of the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), says he’s proud of the work his office has done to connect young people from diverse backgrounds to opportunities in various fields — but more needs to be done.

The CWDB is a board reporting to the Governor that is charged with overseeing and strengthening the state’s workforce development system, governing all federal workforce funds coming into the state, and developing a common policy framework for related programs.

“The CWDB partners with other governmental entities such as the Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Education, and Department of Social Services to leverage funding to facilitate access to work experience opportunities for youth, including paid state internship programs,” Farooq told California Black Media (CBM).

Farooq, who was appointed Chair of the National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs (NASWBC) in August, says the CWDB also partners with non-profit organizations to open pathways to careers for young Californians.

“The CWDB received approval from the federal Department of Labor on a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) waiver that targets systems-involved youth – that is homeless or housing insecure, foster care, and justice involved youth,” Farooq added. “This waiver allows Local Workforce Development Boards additional flexibility in the way they use their youth funding to specifically target systems-involved youth before they disconnect from the school system.”

In August the Legislature passed ACR 16, a resolution that requires the state to “develop a statewide plan that will reduce persistent economic inequities endured by California’s youth,” according to the bill’s language.

The 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) of the United States Census reported that 572,756 youth in California 16 to 24 years of age were neither in school nor at work.

For Black and other minority youth, the statistics are more dire. At 22.3%, the rate of Black teens and young adults, 16 to 24 years old, who are disconnected from the educational system and workforce was more than two times higher the number for their White peers, which was 10.9%.

Farooq said CWDB is currently working to expand its youth portfolio; the CWDB will deepen the partnership work in order to develop a statewide plan that will aim to reduce persistent economic inequities for “opportunity youth.”

Although, addressing youth unemployment is a top priority for the CWDB, the board does not limit its programs and advocacy to young people.

The agency develops initiatives designed to create work pipelines for targeted disadvantaged groups, including formerly incarcerated and justice-involved individuals, as well as pathways to employment in growing industries like construction and infrastructure.

In September, The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $5 million grant to the CWDB under the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program, the largest amount awarded to an agency of its kind in the country. Under Farooq’s purview as chair of the NASWBC, it is the first time California has lead workforce development initiatives on the national level.

“I am honored to have the trust and confidence of my colleagues across the nation,” said Farooq, after he was elected. “In my five years serving as Chair of the CWDB, we have expanded high road partnerships to new sectors, established construction partnerships in every corner of our state, and much more. I look forward to working with my fellow workforce development board chairs to share what has worked here in California and how we can extend economic opportunity to more Americans.”

The NASWBC is an affiliate of the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, which supports administration and meetings for the Association. Members of the association are the chairs of Governor-appointed state workforce development boards. The Association provides a vehicle for state workforce board chairs and staff directors to learn from the experiences of their peers, share best practices and find common ground on national policy issues.

“Dr. Farooq has been instrumental in building a high-road economy here in California,” said Secretary Stewart Knox of California’s Labor & Workforce Development Agency.

“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, Dr. Farooq and the CWDB have over $1 billion in workforce investments in the field today and are leading the way in creating good jobs and meeting the workforce needs of California businesses,” Knox added, praising his colleague who is also President of the Board of Education for Riverside Unified School District (RUSD).

After Farooq’s election to the NASWBC, United States Secretary of Labor Julie Su sent her congratulations.

“Congratulations to my friend, former colleague, and fellow Californian Angelo Farooq on his election today,” she said. “The National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs is in the hands of a committed and creative leader.”

“Angelo knows that the workforce system plays an important role in connecting employers with the diverse, skilled workforce they need and workers with the high-quality jobs they deserve, including workers from historically underserved communities or those facing significant barriers to employment,” she added.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

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4 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Up to the Job: How San Francisco’s PRC Is Providing Work Opportunities That Turn Into Lasting Stability

Each year, PRC serves more than 5,000 clients through a wide range of programs. These include housing navigation, legal advocacy to ensure access to health and public benefits, supportive housing, job and life-skills training, and residential treatment programs.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Black Leadership Council (BLC) Advocacy Day in Sacramento. BLC works to advance meaningful change through policy engagement to unlock the full potential of Black and low-income communities. Photo courtesy of PRC.

By Joe Kocurek, California Black Media

Seville Christian arrived in San Francisco in the 1990s from Kansas City, Mo., a transgender woman coming from a time and place still hostile to who she was.

San Francisco offered a deeper LGBTQ+ history and a more visible community of people like her, but even in a city known for acceptance, building a stable life from scratch was no small task.

After arriving in the city, she turned to Positive Resource Center (PRC) looking for work — and for a foothold — in a new place.

“PRC gave me my first job,” Christian said. “A simple gig — passing out magazines at the San Francisco Pride Parade.”

That first opportunity marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with PRC, one that has seen Christian grow from client to valued employee, and eventually to policy fellow.

“Today, I’ve been with PRC for 27 years, going on 28,” she said.

Seville Christian’s decades-long relationship with PRC includes as a client, fellow and beloved employee. Photo courtesy of PRC.

Helping people access employment and build sustainable careers has been a cornerstone of PRC’s mission since its inception nearly four decades ago. In its most recent annual impact report, PRC served 443 clients through workforce development services, including career counseling, educational programs, hands-on training, and job search assistance. The average wage earned by PRC clients is $26.48 per hour — approximately 38% above San Francisco’s minimum wage.

To advance this work, organizations like PRC have benefited from funding through California’s Stop the Hate Program, which provides direct support to community-based organizations leading anti-hate initiatives.

Christian’s path was not without challenges. During some rocky years, she experienced periods of housing instability and struggled with addiction. Through PRC, she enrolled in a life-skills program that emphasized using her own lived experience as a means of helping others. The program helped set her on a path toward completing an associate’s degree and ultimately launching a career in case management.

“Today, whether someone is new to the city or has lived here their whole life, I know how to help them navigate to where they need to be,” Christian said.

Members of PRC’s Black Leadership Council meet with a lawmaker in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of PRC.

While PRC was founded to serve people living with HIV, its mission has expanded over the decades to meet the needs of people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those facing mental health and substance use challenges.

According to PRC’s Chief of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Tasha Henneman, some of the organization’s earliest programs remain as vital today as they were at the start.

“Our emergency financial assistance program helped more than 1,200 people this year pay rent, cover medical bills, and keep the lights on,” Henneman said. “And over 1,400 people reached out for legal advocacy, resulting in more than $2.5 million in retroactive benefits unlocked.”

Beyond direct services, PRC is deeply committed to community empowerment and policy change. Programs such as the Black Leadership Council support community leaders in advocating for systemic reform, while the Black Trans Initiative focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by Black transgender individuals.

A recent study from the Williams Institute highlighted findings that 71% of transgender homicide victims in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021 were Black and that nearly a third of the transgender homicides during that period were confirmed or suspected hate crimes.

PRC’s direct and indirect services can be a lifeline for people experiencing hate and are an example of the resources people can get connected with through the state’s CA vs Hate hotline.

PRC is now also producing a film project that centers the lived experiences of Black trans clients, including individuals like Christian.

PRC welcomed guests to their annual Open House in April, an evening dedicated to connection, reflection, and learning more about the programs and people working every day to support San Franciscans experiencing housing instability, unemployment, and behavioral health challenges. Photo courtesy of PRC.

“Our film highlights the health journeys and lived experiences of some of PRC’s Black trans clients,” Henneman said. “Our goal is to give voice, visibility, and agency to the participants — and to bring their stories, both harrowing and inspirational, to policymakers and the broader public.”

The film, expected to be released later this year, is directed by Yule Caise, with assistant director Zarina Codes, a Black transgender San Francisco resident.

Today, Christian continues her relationship with PRC as an ambassador, reflecting on a journey that began with a single job opportunity and grew into a lifelong commitment to service.

“Sometimes I’ll be riding the bus or standing in a grocery store, and someone will come up to me from a women’s shelter,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, Miss Seville, I just want to thank you. You really helped me with what I was dealing with.’”

She paused, smiling.

“And in those moments,” Christian said, “I think to myself, “Well!.”

A single word that sums up pride in a journey to find the best in herself.

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11, 2026. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.