News
WPTI Develops Workforce Leaders
The Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst (Marks JCH), a Brooklyn-based community organization serving immigrants and young adults, sought fresh ways to strengthen its leadership capacity and better support program staff in delivering workforce services.
As a Youth & Young Adult Workforce Director at Marks JCH, Farangiza Razakova brought more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, first in her home country of Uzbekistan and now in New York City. When she joined WPTI’s three-month Elevate training program, she was eager to explore how leadership approaches differ across cultures, and to adapt her management style to the U.S. workforce development context.
PRESS RELEASE: WPTI Receives Con Edison Grant as Part of $15 Million Green Initiative
New York, NY (October 9, 2025) – WPTI is proud to announce that it received its first-ever grant from Con Edison as part of a $15 million philanthropic effort to support community-based organizations across New York City and Westchester County to help ensure all New Yorkers benefit from a more sustainable energy grid.
"Con Edison is committed to supporting and partnering with these community organizations working every day to improve the quality of life for people in the neighborhoods we serve," said Jen Hensley, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs of Con Edison. "These grants, funded by our investors, highlight the impact of local action in driving climate solutions and creating equitable opportunities for all New Yorkers."
PRESS RELEASE: CUNY Approves WPTI Online E-course Series for College Credit
Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) is proud to announce that its Foundations in Workforce Development—a 9-course, self-paced online series—has been approved for one elective credit in Youth Studies at the City University of New York School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS).
“Programs offered by external partners undergo a rigorous vetting process before CUNY SPS awards credit for prior learning, and WPTI’s e-courses were an easy ‘yes’ for us,” said Jennifer Sparrow, Interim Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at CUNY SPS. “We are thrilled to offer this high-quality learning opportunity to our students.”
Beyond WPTI’s 20th: A Commitment to Transforming Lives Through Work
On May 20, WPTI celebrated its 20th anniversary as a leading intermediary in the field of workforce development. Over the past two decades we have supported thousands of organizations, agencies, and professionals dedicated to placing people in good jobs and careers—the kind that transform lives.
Now, as we embark on the next phase of our journey, we plan to do even more. Our 2025 goal is to support 10,000 workforce development professionals who will guide one million workers along the path to job stability, economic mobility, and personal security. In a rapidly changing environment, this will take focus, determination, and a lot of cross-sector collaboration.
Strengthening the Workforce for the Future
Workforce practitioners, professionals, and leaders are at the heart of economic mobility. Investing in them is essential to building a more equitable, sustainable future. Yet, in a sector grappling with burnout, systemic inequities, and rapid technological change, how do we equip workforce professionals to lead the future of work?
PRESS RELEASE: WPTI Awarded $1.5 Million to Help NYC Foster Youth Develop Career Pathways
New York, NY (January 16, 2025) – Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) is proud to announce that it has received a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support a groundbreaking initiative connecting young adults with experience in foster care and justice systems to career success and economic security.