Governor’s Workforce Board '24
Represented BY:
Alyssa Comella Alvarado, Executive Director
Award Profile
Courageous Thinking & Action
The Governor’s Workforce Board (GWB) is the primary policy-making body on workforce development matters for the State of Rhode Island and has the responsibility and authority to plan, coordinate, fund, and evaluate education, employment, and training programs that increase the skills of the Rhode Island workers and address the workforce needs of Rhode Island businesses.
In this capacity, the GWB has worked tirelessly to expand investments in career pathways for adults and experiential learning opportunities for youth. Examples include the establishment of the Real Jobs Rhode Island and Real Skills for Youth Programs, the PrepareRI High School Summer Internship Program, and the launch of Career Exploration Equity Grants for schools and community-based organizations.
Under the GWB’s leadership, Rhode Island has widely expanded the implementation of work-based learning and helped set the standard for national best practices.
Vision & Innovation
One of GWB’s primary goals is to help prepare both youth and adults for meaningful careers through the development of demand-driven pathways in partnership with employers.
The Board helped shape the vision and implementation of Real Jobs Rhode Island, Real Skills for Youth, and many other programs and initiatives that have collectively served tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders over the past decade.
This year alone, more than 20,000 youth and adults will benefit from various programs and efforts.
Inspiring Leadership
As Executive Director, Alyssa Alvarado is leading the GWB’s efforts to conceptualize and implement high-quality, scaled, equitable, and effective experiential learning strategies and programs. These efforts include expanded support for initiatives like JA Inspire and Real Skills for Youth; the introduction of Career Exploration Equity Grants for schools and community-based organizations; and building out a platform to connect educators and counselors in all communities to employers and partners offering meaningful opportunities for students.
Alyssa and members of the GWB staff and board also make the time to participate in JA Inspire and JA Leaders Day to directly engage students and help with the mission.
Community Mindedness
The Board is engaged in the ongoing analysis of its workforce development initiatives; assessing program utilization rates by age, gender, race, ethnicity, geography, business size and other indicators when available to address variances in service delivery and identify barriers that may disproportionately affect marginalized populations and communities.
Through such analysis, the GWB continuesly modifies programs and services, implements new outreach tactics, and creates new initiatives for the equitable benefit of Rhode Island job seekers, workers, future workers, and employers.
JA Mission Moment
The GWB is an integral partner in the success of the JA Inspire 8th Grade Career Exploration Fair as part of the State’s PrepareRI efforts and strategy. The GWB actively participates in every stage of the event from planning meetings to volunteering at the event to engage with students and be a resource for all partners.
Thousands of local 8th grade students benefit from this program each year. JA Inspire introduces students to high growth high-demand high-growth careers through interactive exhibits and meaningful interactions with industry professionals.
The GWB support has been instrumental to the program's return to the Rhode Island Convention Center following COVID-19. Their leadership and support in connecting students and educators with the program, employers, and education institutions with this opportunity has led to JA Inspire reaching more than 5,000 students and 80 employers each year for the last two years.
Alyssa Comella Alvardo stated, “The Governor’s Workforce Board is committed to continued partnership to make JA Inspire and other opportunities available to all Rhode Island students in the future.”