Hired Wrapped - 2024 Edition
As we step into the new year, our team is filled with excitement as we reflect on the incredible journey of 2024 — a year brimming with growth, transformation, and meaningful connections. From the milestones achieved by our participants and their families to the evolution of our programs and services, we’ve been honored to support and strengthen our community every step of the way.
At the heart of our mission lies a deep commitment to building trusting relationships and walking alongside the people and families we work with. as they prepare for employment, helping them to navigate systems of support to sustain their families and prepare to thrive.
When we look back at 2024, these are some of the moments and accomplishments that make this year a memorable one for us.
We have continued implementing and expanded our quality programs to meet the needs of jobseekers.
Here are a few examples of this growth in our programs —
This fall, we have developed a new Semiconductor Manufacturing career pathway program.
Hired partnered with Normandale Community College, Polar Semiconductor, Skywater Technologies, and Seagate Technologies to find and prepare much-needed technicians.
We are proud of our first class, who have completed their initial coursework, and begun paid internships with our employers, as they gain the additional skills and complete the rest of the 9-month academic and skills-based learning.
Our six Career Pathways programs enrolled 22 cohorts of participants, a 64% growth in people served between 2023 and 2024.
Our Family Home Visiting Program finished its first year of comprehensive, wrap-around support for families.
This program includes 1:1 coaching of participants and their children through home visits and family friendly programming.
Learn about parenting with positive guidance, written by our Family Coaches.
Our Youth Programs team have been working hard to support young people, many of whom are disconnected from work and school, with increased stability, and reconnection to education, training, and employment.
In 2024, with increased funding, we have been able to expand our youth team and support more people in addressing needs that range from getting driver’s licenses, to organizing site visits with employer partners.
30 youth enrolled in Corridors to Careers programming gained skills in goal setting, time management, employment, communications and so much more.
Our Financial Wellness Program has added an additional coach to support families through the Northside Achievement Zone.
Our financial wellness team interacts with participants across all our programs. We provide programming, skill development opportunities, and 1:1 support around financial literacy, goal setting, and match savings opportunities to support our participant’s financial goals.
Read a blog by Pheng, one of our financial wellness coaches, on budgeting basics.
Pheng teaches a class of Career Pathways participants about financial planning and understanding your paystubs.
We increased our involvement and outreach to meet participants in the community.
Our multichannel, nonpartisan, Get Out of the Vote campaign reached many community members through phonathons, tabling at community events, and social media to promote civic engagement and education for voters to make informed decisions for exercising their right to vote.
We tabled at dozens of community resource fairs and other outreach events to promote Hired’s services and support of other peer organizations. Many new participants learn of Hired’s programming through these opportunities.
A few of our staff member tabling at Pride to represent Hired.
We had a few significant space changes to increase a positive visit experience for our participants.
We reopened an office in Northern Hennepin County, with our new Brooklyn Center office to provide services and support to our northside participants. Currently we host our Medical Manufacturing trainings at this office, as well as provide services through all four of our employment programs.
Thanks to an infrastructure grant from Link Logistics, our East St Paul office installed much needed changes to increase comfort and provide better access to facilities for participants and their families.
Our senior leaders attending the Brooklyn Center open house.
Along with a few other major announcements:
Our longtime Family Stability and Career Pathways director, John Klem, retired in August after a nearly 25-year career with Hired. With his departure, we were able to announce the promotions of two of our amazing staff, as Jen Swalboski was named our new MFIP Director and Andrea Peterson was named our new Career Pathways Director. Read more from John, Jen, and Andrea.
We celebrated a transformative gift from Mackenzie Scott through the Yield Giving Project at our Working Together Breakfast.
President and CEO Julie Brekke announced a historic, one-time gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
“Working together, we are building an environment where everyone in our community can thrive.”
Support from companies, foundations, and individuals like you empower our work to innovate, and to quickly respond to community needs. By fostering partnerships, elevating voices, and advocating for equity, Hired is reimagining possibilities and is working together towards a more inclusive and prosperous future for all of us.
Thank you for making an impact on Hired’s crucial work in the community.