Institute for Women’s Leadership Receives $10,000 AT&T Foundation Grant to Fund Workforce Development Training
The grant enables 100 candidates to earn a certificate at no cost; Grant part of AT&T’s commitment to help bridge the digital
GREEN BAY, Wis., April 15, 2022—UW-Green Bay’s Institute for Women’s Leadership received a $10,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to create and fund a Workforce Development Certificate. The grant will enable 100 candidates to earn a certificate at no cost. The check was presented Thursday, April 14, 2022 at the Institute’s “Celebrate 2022: Women on the Rise” event at the Weidner Center.
The Workforce Development Certificate offers a pathway for displaced, underemployed or underserved employees to upskill to meet changing market dynamics. The certificate can also be recommended by HR professionals and other recruiting entities for entry level employees, employees in transition, or workers reentering the workforce after unemployment or a gap in work history to jumpstart their productivity.
“The Workforce Development Certificate bridges the equity gap by providing workforce skills training to underserved or overlooked individuals, while equipping them with key foundational skills necessary in all work environments,” said Janet Bonkowski, executive director, Institute for Women’s Leadership. “The certificate aligns with the University’s commitment to access and community collaboration.”
The AT&T Foundation grant will also make possible the creation of marketing materials to broaden the reach of the certificate to expand access to additional populations, such as women, women of color and low-income workers. All materials will be available in a printed format to ensure those without internet capabilities can still receive information about the certificate.
“AT&T is proud to support the work of the Institute for Women’s Leadership to help address digital literacy and prepare our workforce,” said Paul Weirtz, President, AT&T Wisconsin. “As a company, we are committed to workforce development and closing the digital divide. This new certificate is a great way to help underserved employees reskill and gain the foundational skills they need for today’s workforce.”
The noncredit certificate is available online and is self-paced with ongoing access. The certificate will address important workplace capabilities that include:
- Strengthening personal communication;
- Advancing technology and digital literacy;
- Problem solving and critical thinking;
- Improving professional standards; and
- Balancing life and work.
Upon completion of the program, participants will earn a digital badge or micro-credential that will validate their competency, demonstrating to employers the essential capabilities necessary to be successful in the workplace.
To learn more about the Workforce Development certificate, please visit the website or contact Tammy Clausen, Business Development, at clausent@uwgb.edu.
The AT&T Foundation grant is part of the company’s nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide and promote digital literacy. AT&T is committing more than $2 billion over the next three years to bridge the digital divide through affordable broadband offers for both consumers and education institutions, and to provide high-quality educational resources and community investment through AT&T Connected Learning, a program to connect students to skills, resources, and opportunities for success in school and in life.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of our company-wide $2 billion commitment from 2021-2024 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity, technology, digital literacy and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Since 2008, we’ve committed more than $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 95,000 continuing education learners each year. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. UW-Green Bay is the fastest-growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
For more information, contact:
Jessica Erickson Sue Bodilly
AT&T UW-Green Bay
608.692.5340 920.465.5502
Jessica.Erickson@att.com Bodillys@uwgb.edu
Photo caption: From left to right: Executive Director of UW-Green Bay’s Division of Continuing Education and Community Engagement Jess Lambrecht; Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich; AT&T Director of External Affairs Robyn Gruner; Chancellor Michael Alexander; Provost Kate Burns; Institute for Women’s Leadership Executive Director Janet Bonkowski; Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach.
