Elevate Spotlight: Learning to Lead by Delegating
When Connie Jordan first stepped into her role as Director of WIOA's Train and Earn Program and Equal Opportunity Liaison at Henry Street Settlement, she was driven by a passion for helping young people succeed and an enthusiasm for tackling the challenges of nonprofit leadership.
In her new role, she was responsible for guiding a diverse team, meeting funder requirements, and ensuring program participants—young adults ages 16 to 24 who were out of school, unemployed, and facing a variety of barriers to employment—developed the skills to enter a competitive workforce.
“I knew the work mattered, but I also knew I needed to grow as a leader to keep pushing the program forward,” Connie says.
Connie learned that the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), which funds Train & Earn, was offering leadership training through Workforce Professional Training Institute (WPTI)’s Elevate program.
"I'm someone who appreciates opportunities to learn from other senior leaders and directors, so I applied right away. I wasn't sure if I'd be accepted, so when I got the email saying I was in, I was really excited to continue to grow and enhance my skills as a director," Connie says.
From the first in-person session, Connie noticed how Elevate provided an open space for individuals to discuss common leadership challenges. This allowed her to enhance her skills surrounding delegation and developing staff to grow into leaders and managers.
Since completing the program, she has tailored her approach to her staff of five, provided members with more leadership opportunities, and delegated responsibilities to help her team build their skills and confidence. Not only has her team grown stronger, Connie finds she now has more time to focus on strategic priorities as well as to work on meeting DYCD’s rigorous administrative and compliance requirements.
“Some staff want a lot of hands-on support, others prefer independence, and some want stretch assignments to grow. Elevate helped me see that understanding what motivates each person is key, and that those differences are a strength if managed well,” Connie says.
Throughout the program, Connie learned several key leadership lessons, starting with giving herself grace. “I’m very driven and want to do everything perfectly, but I’ve learned it’s okay to make mistakes,” she says.
Elevate also emphasized self-care, work-life balance, and having difficult but constructive conversations with employees—skills that are essential in high-stakes nonprofit work where participants’ futures are on the line.
Train & Earn participants at Henry Street gain experience in the green building sector, building skills and earning certifications that lead to HVAC careers and other sustainable construction roles. The program partners with Stacks + Joules for technical training, combining OSHA safety, energy auditing, and basic construction with paid internships. “I can show employers exactly how our program prepares young people to meet their workforce needs,” Connie says, noting that Elevate helped her approach employer partnerships with confidence and clarity.
The impact of Connie’s leadership goes beyond technical skills. After the 14-week training and 5-week internship, participants receive several months of counseling, coaching, and mentorship to build confidence, set goals, and find jobs. “We’re not just preparing them for a job, we’re preparing them for a lifetime of opportunities,” she says. By applying what she learned in Elevate, Connie has strengthened her team’s ability to meet participants where they are, ensuring each young adult gets personalized guidance toward a sustainable career.
Reflecting on her growth, Connie highlights how Elevate helped her embrace the discomfort of leadership and keep her sites set on her vision. “Before, I was always in the weeds. Now I can see the bigger picture—and that’s helping me guide my staff and my participants toward success,” she says.
Through the partnership between DYCD and Henry Street Settlement, Train & Earn is equipping young adults with meaningful skills while supporting the city’s climate and workforce goals. And thanks to Elevate, Connie is leading the program with greater confidence, clarity, and impact—ready to help more young New Yorkers land great jobs in the green economy.
“Elevate Spotlight” shines a light on rising workforce development leaders and the skills, processes, and programs that help them to effectively serve jobseekers. Do you have someone you think we should spotlight? Email us at info@wpti.org.