Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders, Inc.

Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders, Inc. (ITL) has offered Workforce Development and Leadership training since its formation as a 501c3 in 2011. We founded the organization based on the belief that exposing minorities to required education, training, development, and mentorship would allow them to overcome the barriers preventing them from parity in career advancement. Our progress in mitigating the wealth divide by bridging the gap in education, exposure, and job access has been steady over the past eight years, however, not piercing enough to deconstruct the multitude of barriers preventing progress toward equity-high impact asset building to lessen the racial wealth divide.ITL commitment is to provide workforce and professional development training to equip low-to-moderate income constituents in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan areas with the competencies required to leverage middle-skill occupations in the Finance, Information Technology, Aviation, and Services industries. ITL's programs address many of the necessary "soft skills" demanded by today's employers, and technical training to meet job qualifications. We use a balanced approach to workforce enhancement and job preparedness through outreach, recruitment, case and career management, training & development, job placement, financial coaching and home buying coaching. To date, ITL managed over 2,100 constituent engagements; trained over 623 participants and placed 161 individuals in jobs paying above the minimum wage with an 80% job retention rate. ITL's main programs are Workforce Development (Adults 18+) - a State of Texas certified skills and competencies-based study with a focus on work readiness, navigating the job market, leadership, customer services, generation in the workplace, industry-specific skills, career development, financial literacy, and career retention.Additionally, the Emerging Leaders Program is offered to Youth (15 yrs. - 17 yrs.) - a life skills designed and customized curriculum focused on understanding the pathways to the future through self-reflection, parental connection, entrepreneurship and financial education. ITL provides the constituents with the necessary foundation to successfully navigate channels to living-wage employment. ITL is a United Way Service Provider.

Our Needs

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (DFWA) employment has grown by 2.9% or 107K jobs year/year May' 18/May '19. The Metropolitan area ranked second in both the number of jobs added over the year and the annual rate of job growth as compared to the twelve largest metropolitan areas in the country. Unfortunately, area employers are reporting challenges in filling middle-skill jobs due to a shortage of skilled labor. Many individuals in the most needed population find it difficult to take advantage of the area's job growth due to lack of job skills.

Recognizing the lack of enough industry-skilled workers to satisfy the demand of employers, forcing companies to recruit outside of DFWA, while local low-skilled workers struggle to find living-wage employment, ITL developed customized workforce programs to prepare individuals with the necessary "soft and technical skills" to navigate pathways to career placement.

Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders requires funding to support training, development, placement services, and career mentorship for 303 underserved individuals targeted to be placed in living wage jobs over the next three years. ITL leverages employer's needs, creating a pipeline of skilled employees by providing targeted training, certifications, and a direct path to living wage careers for under-resourced individuals (DFWA's Hidden Talent). Additionally, funds are required to support exposing 250 of DFWA's Youth to emerging careers and the many great job opportunities that exist for them across the growth industries. Emerging Leaders program provides Youth opportunities to engage with employers to explore job assignments, requirements, and apprenticeships after completing a study of leadership, careers, and job readiness.

ITL's four strategies:
(1) Increase the self-sufficiency and asset building of families through the use of education, training, empowerment, social capital, and financial literacy
(2) Prepare the next generation of leaders by exposing students to educational requirements for college, vocational careers, and entrepreneurial opportunities
(3) Increase earning opportunity by arming clients with the aptitude to take advantage of new skills required for future careers
(4) We utilize strategic employer partnerships to advocate on behalf of the disadvantaged individuals ensuring acceptance and job placement post-training

We require your help to equip DFWA's Hidden Talent with soft & technical skills, certifications, and jobs for Today's Workforce!