OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis has been challenging for our entire city, and existing inequality has placed the burden largely on low-income communities of color, like those BWI seeks to serve. Just as the health consequences have been unequal, so have the economic impacts. BWI is adapting to continue to provide a growing number of jobseekers in NYC with the skills and tools they need to build careers that support families and communities.

Here’s how we are responding and planning ahead: 

Crisis Response

As soon as stay-at-home orders were in place in New York City, BWI responded quickly to continue services for our trainees and alumni. Since mid-March, BWI has taken the following steps in response to the pandemic:

• We paused in-person training and began delivering some programs remotely. 
• We purchased new technology and program licenses for virtual learning. 
• Our program teams helped hundreds of trainees and graduates access essential benefits and services.
• Our staff maintained close contact with employers and continued job placement services. So far, we have made over 50 job placements since the start of the pandemic. 

Looking Forward

BWI knows that many more people will need our services in the coming months, and we are making plans now to deliver our programs with health and safety in mind. We are taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, New York State and City public officials, peer organizations, employer partners, and past and current trainees. Here are some of the initial steps we’re taking to adapt our programs: 

• Holding program information sessions and trainee assessments virtually. Virtual info sessions are ongoing; you can find dates here. 
• Employing blended training models, hosting some activities virtually and some in-person.
• Adjusting class sizes to observe social distancing measures.
• Requiring and providing masks for all staff and trainees.
• Increasing janitorial services, ensuring training facilities are disinfected daily.
• Asking trainees to adhere to ‘community health standards’ by washing hands frequently, refraining from touching eyes, nose, or mouth, and staying home if sick. 

BWI will continue to revisit these policies as the COVID-19 situation evolves. 

Need Job Training?

BWI is actively enrolling trainees, so if you are interested in joining one of our training programs, please visit the program pages to learn more about info sessions and application deadlines. Please be aware that most of our programs will take place virtually and in-person. Here are additional requirements to enroll in training starting in June 2020:

• Be prepared to take part in training remotely with an internet connection and computer. Please connect with your program contact if you need help accessing the internet or a computer.
• For most programs, trainees will also be asked to take part in live training sessions at our facilities, once these activities are allowed. In-person trainings will be done with CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines in place. 

Please note that our training sites are operating with different business hours due to COVID-19. Please call before you arrive.