Hernando Reporter

Broward College received this year’s Innovative Workforce Program award from the NCWE for its innovative and market-driven programming and courses offered through Broward UP™. Broward UP is the College’s innovative approach to increasing post-secondary access and providing workforce education in communities impacted by high unemployment and low education attainment.  The NCWE builds inclusive networks of workforce professionals that champion innovation, justice and economic opportunity through policy and practice, preparing communities for success in the global economy.

"We are disrupting the traditional model of higher education through Broward UP,” said Dr. Mildred Coyne, senior vice president of Workforce Education and Innovation. “We know that there is unlimited potential in our community, and we aim to show each resident that there is a path towards post-secondary education and higher paying jobs. Receiving this national recognition for our hard work further validates our efforts.”

The College launched Broward UP™ in 2018 in six zip codes to deliver workforce education courses and programs, along with career readiness and related support services for unemployed or underemployed residents. Broward UP is dedicated to changing the lives of residents by removing barriers and offering educational opportunities, workforce training, and support services directly in these neighborhoods – so that every single resident realizes their unlimited potential regardless of their zip code. 

Last year, Broward College was named one of seven organizations to receive $30 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Education as a part of its Promise Neighborhood program. This is the largest grant in the College’s history. Broward College is the first grantee in Florida and the first community college in the nation to ever receive a Promise Neighborhoods grant.  The grant was built on the foundation of Broward UP and will deepen engagement in Broward UP zip codes. As the lead agency, Broward College will coordinate the grant program with community, municipal, and nonprofit partnerships to raise the educational attainment levels and positively impact the social and economic mobility of area residents.

Broward UP has also been expanded to support an additional five zip codes, expanding the College’s support services to a total of 11 zip codes. Since its launch, Broward UP has served more than 3,400 residents and awarded more than 2,100 workforce-ready certificates and industry certifications.

For more information about the 2022 Innovative Workforce Program award, visit https://www.ncwe.org/page/2022_exemp_awards.

Original source can be found here.