UDC and DC Water partner to establish a blueprint for sustainable workforce pathways for Ward 8

As a result of their mutual desire and interest in creating sustainable pathways for the underserved communities, UDC and DC Water met on March 15 to outline workforce needs and opportunities specific to their respective areas to help District residents.

The two entities discussed how to streamline credentials, baseline needs, and skillsets in an equitable and forward-thinking manner. UDC and DC Water’s work will complement the tremendous strides made under the District’s Public Service Commission’s Advisory Council on Utility Supplier and Workforce Diversity Initiative, which DC Water co-leads.

“With the historic passing of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill last November, we have a tremendous opportunity to concentrate efforts towards solutions that create a sustainable pipeline of opportunity,” said David L. Gadis, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of DC Water, one of the largest and most highly regarded water utilities in the nation.

UDC’s Developing America’s Workforce Nucleus (DAWN) Initiative with the District of Columbia Public Schools and the Department of Energy and the Environment also brings economic mobility to DC area residents. Through DAWN, UDC and its partners strengthen the ecosystem surrounding the promising, overlooked talent of Black, brown, and economically disadvantaged students in the Anacostia neighborhood in Ward 8.

“We will meet people where they are and give them the tools they need to succeed,” said UDC President Ronald Mason Jr. “We are building an equitable workforce and securing our energy future.”

DAWN rethinks public education to produce more business and entrepreneurship-ready STEM talent by exploring diverse ways to identify human potential beyond the usual high stakes standardized assessments. It also reimagines the learning process, particularly in the STEM disciplines, so that it better refines the talents of economically disadvantaged students and students of color; and builds seamless, multi-credentialed talent production pipelines, with multiple off- and on-ramps, from the community through to careers.

“We are committed to America’s brave, bold future of innovation and opportunity for everyone,” Mason said. “America cannot find, nurture and sustain the vast numbers needed for its talent pipeline without nurturing the potential of all Americans.”

To learn more about the DAWN Initiative, please contact Patrick Gusman, the University’s Deputy Chief of Staff and DAWN’s strategic director at patrick.gusman@udc.edu.