Dover, DE – In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights efforts across Delaware to strengthen the state’s transportation system.   

“Finding new sources of revenue in a tight fiscal environment is not easy, but investing in Delaware’s infrastructure means safer and more efficient roads for our citizens,” said Governor Markell. “It also means more jobs both during construction and at the businesses that have opportunities to start and expand operations as a result of a high quality transportation system – and all of that keeps Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/-g0C-KRXzOc
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message:  Creating Jobs While Investing in a Modernized Infrastructure

Wilmington – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Rita Landgraf has been chosen to serve on the new U.S. Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez announced Monday.

Landgraf, who has spent more than 30 years of her career in support of individuals with disabilities, served as a key adviser to Gov. Jack Markell during his yearlong initiative as Chair of the National Governors Association to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  The Governor’s 2012-2013 initiative, “A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities,” culminated with the release of a blueprint for his fellow governors specifically focused on the role that state governments and businesses can play in creating more employment opportunities for people with disabilities and on improving employment outcomes. Landgraf continues to work with the Governor to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Delaware’s private, nonprofit and public sectors.

“I am thrilled Secretary Perez has chosen Rita to serve on this new advisory committee,” Governor Markell said. “She is an ideal choice to move this work forward on a national level because she never forgets that, at its core, this is about people and the talents and skills they can share with others in the workplace. As the employment picture continues to improve nationwide, it is important we find additional ways to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With Rita’s knowledge and experience, she is uniquely qualified to do just that.”

Under Governor Markell’s leadership and in partnership with the business community, Delaware reported an 8.6 percent increase in active employment for individuals with disabilities from 2011 to 2013. Markell also has made hiring of people with disabilities a priority for state government using hiring practices and programs to increase employment levels.

After the University of Delaware, in collaboration with the State of Delaware, conducted a comprehensive survey of state employees in 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) identified two key areas for training: disability awareness among all employees, and refinement of state hiring practices and systems in order to recruit more qualified applicants with disabilities. An online class, “Focus on Ability,” became available to all state employees in October 2014. A classroom training program for managers and supervisors will begin this year.

Secretary Landgraf, who has served as DHSS Cabinet Secretary since January 2009, is the former executive director of The Arc of Delaware and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Delaware. She also served as president of AARP Delaware. She was nominated to serve on the U.S. Advisory Committee by the National Disability Institute and received a letter of recommendation from Governor Markell.

“I was honored to be nominated by the National Disability Institute and to be supported by Governor Markell, and I am equally honored to be selected to serve by Secretary Perez,” Secretary Landgraf said. “My entire career has been motivated by this deeply rooted belief: We all benefit when individuals with disabilities are able to share their gifts and talents with others and vice versa. We know that too often what separates people with disabilities from the rest of the population is financial security. I believe, as the Governor does, that individuals with disabilities should not have to choose between meaningful employment and retaining the supports and services they receive through Medicaid and other government programs. I look forward to advising Secretary Perez on ways to advance employment opportunities across the country for individuals with disabilities.”

The new U.S. Advisory Committee is a key provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law by President Barack Obama in July 2014. The law supports job seekers, including individuals with disabilities, access services to succeed in employment and matches employers with skilled workers. The committee will advise the U.S. Secretary of Labor on ways to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities.

Integrated employment refers to jobs held by people with disabilities in workplace setting where the majority of employees do not have disabilities. In these jobs, individuals with disabilities earn wages consistent with those paid workers with disabilities performing the same or similar work, making at least minimum wage and are paid directly by their employer.

Secretary Landgraf is one of 17 selected members of the committee chosen from more than 280 nominations nationwide. Seven federal officials will also serve on the committee. Other members represent:

• Self-advocates for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities;

• Providers of employment services, including those who employ individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in competitive integrated employment;
• Representatives of national disability advocacy organizations;
• Experts with a background in academia or research in employment and wage policy issues for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities;
• Representatives of the employer community;
• Other individuals with expertise on increasing opportunities for competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The first meeting of the committee will take place Jan. 22-23 at the U.S. Access Board in Washington. More information about the committee, its members, and upcoming meetings can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/WIOA.htm.

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Wilmington, DE – Formed in Delaware over three decades ago by Governor Pete du Pont, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) celebrates an important milestone today, with the enrollment of the one-millionth student (full JAG release below). Governor Markell now chairs the organization.

Representing the First State at the celebration is Laurel Senior High School student Da’Shalyn Barnes. President of her local chapter of Jobs for Delaware’s Graduates (JDG), Da’Shalyn also serves as secretary for the Delaware State Career Association as well as The National Honor Society, and is a representative of the Student Government Association. Her full bio is attached. She and Markell will participate in today’s National Leadership Awards Luncheon in Washington, where 31 students (one from each state with a JAG program) will represent the “One-Millionth JAG Student.”  They will join 250 leaders from business, government, education, and communities who support and invest their time and reputations in the work of Jobs for America’s Graduates.

Media interested in speaking with the Governor or others involved in today’s JAG celebration should contact Jonathon Dworkin at 302-233-6695 or jonathon.dworkin@delaware.gov.

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE “ONE-MILLIONTH JAG STUDENT”

Jobs for America’s Graduates, a national non-profit with 35 years of experience in helping some of the nation’s most at-risk young people succeed in school and on the job, announces the enrollment of the one-millionth student since the inception of the organization under the leadership of Governor Pete du Pont in 1979.

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) now operates in 1,000 classroom sites in 31 states.  It provides intensive employability skills training, motivational student organization activities, remediation, academic support, and problem-solving for external issues that affect young men and women.  JAG students receive a full 12 months of follow-up after graduation to ensure their successful transition into work, higher education, or both.

The results of JAG have been consistent for 34 years:

1. Dramatically increasing graduation rates to 90% or above.
2. Doubling the rates that poor, disadvantaged, and young people of color are able to secure jobs and tripling the rates that they secure full-time employment.
3. Increasing the rates of both higher education enrollment and completion for this same population – almost all first-generation college students.

Governor Jack Markell of Delaware serves as Chair of the Board of Jobs for America’s Graduates and nine other Governors serve on the Board, along with “C-suite” executives of the Fortune 500, the U.S. President of the United Way Worldwide, and the Presidents of the Business Roundtable and the National Urban League.

Governor Markell highlighted the “One-Millionth JAG Student” milestone by stating that it is “a special pleasure for all of us in Delaware who, for 35 years, have seen what an extraordinary value Jobs for America’s Graduates brings to young people.  It is a record of hope, opportunity, and delivery on the promise of jobs and higher education success for our young people.”

The “One-Millionth JAG Student” will be celebrated at the JAG National Leadership Awards Luncheon at noon on November 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, DC.  More than 600 young leaders from around the country will attend, including those 31 who have been selected (one from each JAG state) to represent the “One-Millionth JAG Student.”  They will join 250 leaders from business, government, education, and communities who support and invest their time and reputations in the work of Jobs for America’s Graduates.

“[Before JAG] I had no direction in life and really felt that I would never do anything in my life. That is all in my past now. I know I belong in JAG. I know that I am loved and cared for. I know that I can achieve great things – things I never imagined at one point in my life. I have a plan for a wonderful future, for JAG has given me hope!” said Autumn Keith, Jobs for Georgia’s Graduates One-Millionth JAG Student representative.

In addition to Governor Jack Markell, it is anticipated that Governors Jay Nixon of Missouri, Phil Bryant of Mississippi, and John de Jongh, Jr. of the Virgin Islands (all JAG Board members) will attend.  Senator Tom Carper of Delaware (Vice Chair of the Board during his years as Governor of Delaware) will also participate at the event.

Governor Phil Bryant will become the JAG Chairman on January 1, 2015.  Regarding his attendance at this special event, the Governor stated that he is “humbled to be the Chair-elect of this high impact, proven program.  I look forward to continuing our efforts in Mississippi to grow Jobs for Mississippi Graduates from the current 50 to 100 programs, and as Chair I will work to increase the number of JAG programs across the country as we look ahead to serving the next one million JAG students.”

The event will highlight the remarkably generous investment of USA Funds in the work of Jobs for America’s Graduates and its new direction, to help ensure that JAG’s students achieve a higher level of success in graduation, higher education, and employment.  At the Luncheon, USA Funds will receive the National Student Investor of the Year Award for its investments in JAG and several other initiatives in various states to improve students’ successful enrollment in and completion of higher education.

McKinsey & Company will be recognized for launching its “Generation” Initiative that, over the next four years, will engage 250,000 young men and women in the U.S.in a new form of engagement with employers to provide intensive training over 8-12 weeks, followed by two-month internships.  McKinsey & Company will receive the National Youth Employment Partnership Award for its leadership in building new relationships and connections between prospective employers and young people as they graduate from high school.

More Than 25 Students to Visit Prospective Area Employers

New Castle, DE – Gov. Jack Markell will address the employment landscape encountered by young people with disabilities during Disability Mentoring Day activities hosted by the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and, for the sixth year, the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies.

“Our expectation for young people with disabilities is that they get job exploration experiences like Disability Mentoring Day,” Gov. Markell said. “We know that young people who participate in such transition services are more engaged in planning their careers and will be ready for the world of work.”

More than 25 people with disabilities, including students from UD and the Christina School District and clients from DHSS’ Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Division for the Visually Impaired, will meet the governor and spend much of the day learning about different careers and networking with potential employers.

Two young women with disabilities, Alyssa Cowin, an operations support specialist with DHSS’ Office of the Secretary, and Julia Hensley, a recent graduate of Appoquinimink High School, helped to plan the day’s events.

Disability Mentoring Day kicks off 8:30 a.m. at the Courtyard hotel with remarks by Newark Mayor Polly Sierer, Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf, keynote speaker and self-advocate Elizabeth Weintraub and Center for Disabilities Studies Director Beth Mineo. After their job site visits, students will return to the hotel for a recognition ceremony and closing remarks from Ms. Cowin, Secretary Landgraf and Gov. Markell.

Disability Mentoring Day is a national effort held on the third Wednesday in October to promote career development for people with disabilities through hands-on career exploration, on-site job shadowing and peer mentoring. The joint effort this year by DHSS, DOE, DVR and CDS to promote the goals of Disability Mentoring Day have nearly doubled the number of young people registering to meet with area businesses. The collaboration also marks the first steps to turn Disability Mentoring Day in Delaware into a statewide event.

Gov. Markell devoted his one-year chairmanship as head of the National Governors Association to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities across the country,

When:  October 15, 2014 (Disability Mentoring Day)

Gov. Markell speaks/appears from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Students visit job sites from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where:  Courtyard  Newark-University of Delaware, 400 Hollowell Drive, Newark, DE.

Student worksite visits happen throughout New Castle County.

Contact: Victor Schaffner at CDS, 302-831-3038, or vschaff@udel.edu

Blueprint is result of his year-long initiative as NGA Chair

Milwaukee, WI – At today’s opening session for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA), Governor Jack Markell released a blueprint of findings and recommendations compiled during a year-long project he led as NGA chair to increase hiring of people with disabilities. The document provides a roadmap for states, businesses and the disabilities community to work together on ways to address a persistent challenge and take advantage of the valuable skills possessed by this population.

Markell chose the topic realizing governors might be missing a unique opportunity to help businesses with their workforce concerns in a way that would generate broad bipartisan support. Of the estimated 54 million Americans living with a disability, only 20 percent are employed or seeking employment, compared to almost 70 percent of Americans without a disability.

“As governors, we know that when barriers prevent a significant segment of our population from participating in our workforce, talent is being wasted and our economic competitiveness suffers,” said Markell. “Businesses that are leading in hiring people with disabilities understand this effort isn’t about charity. As the CEO of Walgreens told us, he wants to have 25 percent of the company’s workforce consist of people with disabilities because it’s better for his bottom line and in the best interest of his shareholders.”

Markell’s initiative, “A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities,” involved gathering information from people with disabilities, other advocates, business leaders, federal agency representative, state policymakers and researchers. The NGA organized more than 60 meetings, as well as two roundtables, two sessions at the NGA Winter Meetings in Washington, D.C., and institutes in Pittsburgh and Seattle where people across the country gathered to learn and discuss best practices.

In presenting the blueprint to fellow governors, Markell said discussions with businesspeople throughout the initiative affirmed they care about an employee’s ability, not his or her disability. Instead of looking to businesses to solve a social service problem, Markell said states must approach companies by offering to help solve the challenges they face in finding and hiring skilled workers.

In addition, businesses are much more likely to buy-in to the benefits of employing people with disabilities when they know a peer in the private sector is doing so. Governors must bring business leaders together to talk about this topic and provide an opportunity for them to learn from each other.

Markell referenced a partnership being launched in Delaware that illustrates the potential for putting more people with disabilities to work.  The state has helped bring together the IT firm CAI and an international organization called Specialisterne, which is dedicated to employment of individuals with autism. CAI, a company that employs thousands of people across the country, is committed to hiring people who have autism for more than 3% of its workforce by 2015, recognizing that these individuals are especially qualified for technology roles like software testing, data quality assurance, programming, data mining and data entry.

The NGA blueprint provides options for states to align their policies, programs and services for individuals with disabilities in gaining enhanced access into the workforce, including executable ideas to:

• Make employing people with disabilities part of the broader state workforce strategy;
• Find and support more businesses who hire people with disabilities;
• Ensure states are model employers of people with disabilities;
• Prepare youth with disabilities for the workforce; and
• Make the best use of scarce resources to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

“We intentionally wrote this document as a ‘blueprint’ to map out practical actions governors can take, not as a report that will sit on a shelf,” said Markell. “It includes concrete examples for state policymakers as they work to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, which is a goal that every governor can support.”

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