Since 1981, Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center has been giving low-income Rhode Islanders the educational opportunities they need to realize their full potential and climb the ladder to success-through literacy and language programs including family literacy, workforce training, college preparatory programs, and employment services.
Our current President, Brenda Dann-Messier, has been nominated to serve our Nation and the Obama administration as assistant secretary for vocational and adult education.
The Board of Directors is seeking an innovative and accomplished educational leader and experienced President to lead our financially stable, nationally-respected organization. Our new President will effect even greater achievement for our students, and inspire our staff, board and community to ensure high quality and life-changing educational opportunities for low-income Rhode Islanders.
Since 1981, Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center has been giving low-income Rhode Islanders the educational opportunities they need to realize their full potential and climb the ladder to success- through literacy and language programs including family literacy, workforce training, college preparatory programs, and employment services.
We are committed to serving the hard to serve -- those individuals with low educational levels and those who are un- or underemployed.
We have grown over the last 29 years from a handful of volunteers sitting around a kitchen table helping single mothers earn their GEDs to a nationally-respected, professionally-staffed organization that today provides effective, high quality adult education, ESOL, college and workforce readiness to 1,000 low-literacy/language and low-income adults and their families annually.
We are recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Education for quality program outcomes that exceed all performance targets. We were selected by the National Coalition for Literacy as a recipient of its 2009 NCL Literacy Leadership Award which will be awarded during a reception at the Library of Congress in September 2009.
We are financially stable, with an annual budget of $3 million and a professional staff of over 40. In 2005, we completed a $2.1 million capital campaign that doubled our classroom capacity. We have a well-respected 24 person board of directors that include leaders from community, education, business/ corporate, health care and philanthropic sectors.
Our reputation for quality outcomes is known beyond Rhode Island. Our highly respected President and President, Brenda Dann-Messier, has been nominated to join the Obama administration as Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
We are looking for a President who will continue to be a strong leader and champion for adult education programs regionally and nationally and will continue to provide high quality services.
Rhode Island's gap between the poorest and wealthiest families has grown rapidly over the last two decades. Rhode Island was second in the nation for growth in income inequality and was ranked 12th in the nation for the income gap between the richest and poorest families as reported in an April 2008 study released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. This study makes the case for greater investment in workforce development initiatives as a means to help low-income Rhode Islanders gain the skills they need to advance in the workforce.
The need for comprehensive adult education services affects our communities in many different ways. This is especially true in Rhode Island which "has the largest percentage of low-skilled workers (an estimated 25%) of any state in the Northeast" and where the "majority of low-skilled workers lack the educational foundation needed for success in RI's labor market." (The Providence Plan, "The Low-Skilled Workforce in Rhode Island," 2008)
Addressing adult literacy is a priority for the Governor's Workforce Board:
"Even during economic downturns, employers continue to report a shortage of job applicants with the requisite skills for the contemporary workplace. Education and skill differences that limit the ability of many residents to participate in the economy must be changed.education and training are key ingredients to ensure economic growth and competitiveness." (RI's Strategic Workforce Plan, 2009-2014)
The adult education target population in RI is estimated at 148,871 individuals (i.e., they are sixteen and older, are not enrolled in school, and have no high school diploma and/or are limited English proficient) according to the 2006 American Community Survey.
Estimates also suggest that every year several thousand youth leave high school before graduating and that several thousand immigrants with limited English language skills enter Rhode Island.
The future of adult education in Rhode Island and its funding is linked with workforce development, transition to college services and the capacity to create and leverage strategic partnerships.
Over the next few years, our new President will be charged with:
Through a three-year capacity building initiative with the Rhode Island Foundation, deepening our internal fundraising, program development, evaluation, management and administrative capacity and strengthening board governance, board member engagement, and participation in philanthropy while ensuring continuation of strong community voices on the Board.
The successful candidate will be an innovative and accomplished educational leader with a strong commitment to the mission and values of Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center. S/he will have demonstrated strong partnership, networking and public policy advocacy skills and be an experienced and resourceful President, a collaborative leader, proven fundraiser, and a disciplined, evidence-driven decision-maker.
While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes and experiences:
More information about Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center may be found at www.dorcasplace.org
Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, but no later than September 21, 2009.
Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume, salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to: Donna Bailey, dbailey@dorcasplace.org.
©2004 Dorcas Place Adult & Family Learning Center, Inc. . 220 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 . phone: 401-273-8866