A furniture warehouse in Houston might seem an unlikely location for educational innovation, but it’s here that WorkTexas is reimagining how vocational training can address both employment needs and life challenges.
“You’re not going to do well in your job if you’re homeless or hungry, or your car stops working,” explains Mike Feinberg, co-founder of WorkTexas. “There’s physical health issues or mental health issues. I mean it goes on and on.”
Beyond Traditional Training
Launched in 2020, the program takes a comprehensive approach to workforce development. “We know our students need transportation; that’s been one of the biggest things we’ve found — and childcare,” says Yazmin Guerra, workforce development leader for WorkTexas and the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. “People need [both] to be able to go to work.”
The program distinguishes itself by measuring success differently than traditional trade schools. “You go to community colleges, you go to these trade schools that you see the billboards on the highways and ask them, ‘Are you successful?’” Feinberg says. “And they say, ‘Well, 97.8% of all of our students earn a certificate.’ Which begs a question, ‘Hey, that’s great. How many of those people got jobs?’ Crickets. They don’t know.”
Feinberg’s Community-Based Solution
WorkTexas has built a network of support services through strategic partnerships. The results are promising: 70% of alumni have either secured new employment or advanced in their positions, with average starting wages of $19.10 per hour.
“The people who are working on food and housing and physical health realize their work can only truly make a huge impact with people if people wind up going to work and having a sustainable career,” Feinberg explains. “There’s a symbiotic relationship here we’re tapping into that’s pretty neat.”
This comprehensive support continues long after graduation. “We make a commitment to follow our students who were trained for at least five years,” Feinberg says. “We’re interested in what that looks like in terms of career contentment and especially what it looks like in terms of earning power and creating sustainable lives for themselves and their families and future generations.”
Through this holistic approach, WorkTexas is demonstrating how vocational education can address both immediate employment needs and long-term community development goals. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter for more.