Designed to prepare women for entry into high-demand industries
Project Summary
HHW Ohio is a 501(c)3 organization which inspires and supports women as workplace and community leaders. Since 1979 HHW Ohio has engaged industry and community leaders to match women who need lifelong careers with employers who need a qualified, skilled workforce. The work engages women and girls in critical technical and STEM pathways that strengthen the economic competitiveness of Ohio and the financial security of families. In 2020, HHW Ohio entered into a partnership with New Growth group to provide staff and strategic support.
HHW Ohio’s signature program is WISE Pathways, a state-registered pre-apprenticeship developed and operated by HHW Ohio. WISE Pathways is designed to prepare women for entry into high-demand industries including manufacturing, skilled trades, construction, and renewable energy through a structured, employer-informed model. Participants are adult women in Cuyahoga County seeking access to stable, family-sustaining careers, many of whom face systemic barriers to entry into technical fields. New Growth provides the staff support and office space to operate the program in Cuyahoga County
Outcome
WISE Pathways was identified as a key strategy for the Built Environment Collaborative, an initiative from the City of Cleveland that seeks to get more Clevelanders connected to careers in the trades, infrastructure and renewable energy. Since launching as part of the Built Environment Collaborative in the spring of 2023, HHW Ohio has served over 100 women through the WISE Pathways program. The program has graduated over 70 women with over 35 actively pursuing or in careers in targeted pathways.
