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FY '15 and FY '16 Biennial Report
LetterfromtheExecutiveDirector.
In2006,BESTopeneditsdoorstoofferoneESLclass,acitizenshipprepclass,andabanquetserverclasstoLocal26memberswitheducationbenefits.Tenyearslater,in2016,therewere491classenrollments,ofbothincumbenthotelworkersandjobseekers.OurcoursesnowincludesixlevelsofEnglish,computers,culinaryskillsandindustry-specificcertificationsandtrainingslikefoodsafetyandergonomics.We’veleveragedthefundingforourincumbentworkerstoraisefundsforjobseekertraining.Ourannualbudgethasgrownfrom$250,000in2007toover$1.3millioninFY2016.Thisbiennialreportwilltellyouwhatweachievedoverthelasttwofiscalyears.
Ourpartnersincludeover40hospitalityemployersandUNITEHERElocal26;city,state,federal,andprivatefunders;ourgrowingstaffandengagedvolunteers.Ourstudentsprovidetheengine,steam,andinspirationforwhatwedo.
Today,BESTisanationalmodelofwhatasuccessfullabor-managementpartnershipcanachievewhenwefindcommonground:workerswhoarewellpaidandreceivecomprehensivebenefitswanttoexcelinandretaintheirjobs.Awell-trainedworkforcereducesthecostsofturnoverandaccidents.Happyworkersbringmorebusiness.Communitiesandneighborhoodsbenefitaswell.Goodjobsleadtobetterlives.
ThemissionofBESTHospitalityTrainingistoprovideindividualswiththeeducation,skillsandtrainingto
excelinthehospitalityindustryandintheirpersonallives.
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• LaunchedMelKingEmpowermentProgram
• Launchedfirstbrand-specifictrainingfortwonewhotels(CVProperties/Starwood)
• BecameDepartmentofLaborregisteredHousekeepingPre-ApprenticeshipProgram
• OpenedjobseekertrainingspaceinDudleySquare
• WhiteHouseUpSkill Summit
• FirstprizeinHarvardKSGPhilanthropyClassCompetition
• WonsecondprizeinNationalWishUponaStarcompetition
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“BESThasareallygreathostoffolksthatgiveyoutheirall.”–DoeTogbah,computerstudent
“IloveBESTbecauseithelpsmewithmyconfidenceinspeakingEnglish.”– MayaChuke,EFHstudent
“Studentsareincrediblyhard-working…Ithasbeenveryrewardingtoseestudentsimprovenotjusttheirmathskills,buttheirself-confidence.IthasbeenaprivilegetohelpBESTHospitalityTrainingpursueitsmission.”– JimWiess,BESTvolunteer
2015-2016HIGHLIGHTS
RECOGNITIONS
617
541
229166 161 149
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
EnglishforHospitality
Certifications TechnologyWorkshops
CitizenshipClass JobSeekerClass Others
FY15–FY16 ENROLLMENTS BY COURSE CATEGORY
1693
170
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
FY15–FY16 ENROLLMENTS BY STUDENTS
Local26EligibleHospitalityWorkersJobSeekers
29%
29%
17%
11%
8% 6%
FY15–FY16PRIMARYLANGUAGESTOP6OUTOF36
English Spanish Cantonese Chinese HaitianCreole Arabic
3
5
35%
28%
15%
8%
8% 6%
FY15–FY16COUNTRYOFORIGINTOP6OUTOF69
China UnitedStates Haiti
Colombia ElSalvador DominicanRepublic
35%
29%
23%
9% 4%
FY15–FY16ETHNICITY
BlackorAfricanAmerican(notHispanic) Asian
HispanicorLatino White(notHispanic)
Other
9
12
12
13
16
20
0 5 10 15 20 25
TheWestinCopleyPlaceBoston
SheratonBostonHotelandTowers
FairmontCopleyPlazaHotel
TheWestinBostonWaterfront
AloftHotel
TheBostonParkPlazaHotel
FY15–FY16 BEST JOB SEEKER P LACEMENTS BY EMPLOYERTOP 6
“WewerethrilledtobeabletodirectourjobslinkagefundstoafantasticorganizationlikeBESTHospitalityTraining.TheywillprovidegreattrainingandpreparationfortheworkerswhowillserveourguestsatthenewAloftandElementhotelsonDStreet.”
- DickGalvinPresident&FounderCVProperties,LLC
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PROGRAMS
JobSeekerOfferings(fundedbycity,state,andprivatefoundations)
RoomAttendant/Housekeeping Program
DepartmentofLaborRegisteredPre-ApprenticeshipHousekeeping Program
Introduction toHospitalityProgram/MelKingEmpowermentProgram
IncumbentWorkerProgram(fundedby employers)
Sixlevels ofEnglishforHospitality
Computers
USCitizenshipPreparation
BasicCulinarySkills
ProfessionalFood Server
IndustryCertifications:CPR/AED,FoodSafety, andTiPS(safeservingofalcohol)
• MovefromChinatowntoMedford
• FullystaffDudleytrainingsite
• Expandapprenticeshipprogram
• Prepareforcasinohiring
• PartnermorecloselywithBunkerHillCommunityCollege
VISION FOR 2017-2018
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Saudatou DiallocametotheU.S.fromGuineain2011withherthreechildren.ShecametotheUnitedStatesbecauseshewantedtochangeherlife.“Here,youworkandearnmoney.InAfrica,youworkanddon’tearnmoney.”WhenshecametotheU.S.shefirstworkedinahair-braidingsalon,andaftersixmonths,shestartedtakingclassesatABCD.Then,sheappliedforaretailjob.Overthethreeyearssheworkedinretail,shemovedupfromcleanertocashierasherEnglishimproved.AtTarget,sheworkedasmuchas36hoursaweekwhenitwasbusy,andothertimesaslittleas11hours/week.Shestartedat$8.75andeventuallyherhourlywagecameupto$10.33.Sheneverreceivedbenefitsbecauseshewasnotfulltime.Itwouldtakeher1.5hourstogettowork,fromDorchestertoWatertown.
SUCCESS STORIES
AfriendtoldheraboutBEST’strainingandshewasadmittedtotheRoomAttendantTrainingProgram.ShewashiredasahousekeeperattheOmniParkerHouseinMay2015.Now,workisonlyhalfanhouraway.Shemakesover$20/hourand,asamemberofUNITEHERELocal26,shereceivescomprehensiveemployersponsoredbenefits.Aspartofthebenefitplan,shetookBEST’sEnglishclassesandaCPRclassandgotCPRcertified.ShealsotookBEST’sUScitizenshipprepclassand,inMay2016,shebecameaUScitizen.“Mydreamisformykidsistogotocollegeandhaveabetterjobandbetterlife.IthinktheirliveswillchangebecauseIhaveanewjob.BeforeIwastoostressedandIcouldn’tpaymybills.NowIhavemoneytopaymybillsandmystressislow.”We’vejustreceivedwordthatinSeptember2017,Saudatou’s daughterwillenrollasafreshmanatBridgewaterStateCollege.
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KatrinaHinesgraduatedfromthesecond2015MKEPclassonAugust7,2015.ThefollowingMonday,August10,shemetLisaBrandi,StarwoodRegionalTalentAcquisitionManageratourJobFair.OnAugust18,shewasaskedtoapplyforahousekeepingpositionattheSheraton.ShestartedworkingthereinSeptember,andnowearns$20.43/hour.
ForKatrina,movingfromunemployedtoemployedchangedheroutlookonlife:"AsayoungAfricanAmericanwomangrowingupwithdifferentjobslikeworkingatSave-a-Lotandotherretailstores,Idevelopedafrustratedandnegativeoutlook.Iusedtobeanegativethinker,fullofself-doubt.
SUCCESS STORIES
NowIhavetheconfidenceandtoolstodowhatIneed."Katrinasaysherjobhasimpactedherdaughter:"We’redoingalotmorethingsnowandsituationsthatusedtostressmeoutdon’tanymore.Icantellshenotices.Andshe’sreapingthebenefits."
Heroutlookonlifeandplansforthefuturearebright:"IfeelasifIhavesomuchmoretoprove.I’vegottenthisjob.It’sjustthebeginning.Andmymindismadeup.There’snogoingback.I’monlygoingforwardandIwantthisforotherswhothinkthey’reattheendoftheroadindead-endjobs.Striveformore.Keepworkinghard."
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Movingpeopleintoqualityjobs
SinceBEST’sinceptionin2004,BESThasadvocatedforpoliciesthathelpmovelow-wageworkersintojobsthatpayalivingwage.BESThasledthechargeon“qualitytrainingforqualityjobs”.BESTSocialReturnonInvestmentandreputationforqualitytrainingleadingtoqualityjobshasbeenrecognizedasamodelprogram.
CHANGING THE CONVERSATION
“Ihavethisprofoundloveandappreciationforpeoplewhodothekindofworkthat’sgoingoninservice,inhotels,hospitals… andwe’rejust
beginningtogettoseethattheygettheremunerationthattheydeserveandthattheirworkisasvaluabletoanykindofworkthatanybodydoes.”– MelKing
“ThecityofBoston’srelationshipwithLocal26andtheBESTCorpfallsrightinlinewithsomeofourtoppriorities.We’reworkingtohelpwomenandpeopleofcolorovercomeobstaclesandsecuregoodjobsandgoodemployment.We’reworkingtoensure
safetyandhealthandgoodworkingconditions.Andwe’reboostingourlocaleconomyupbysupportingworkingfamilies.Sothisisawin-win-winalltheway
around.”– MayorWalsh
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Highlightingthelabor-managementrelationship:
UNITEHERELocal26PresidentBrianLangismakingwavesinBoston.Positivewaves.BrianreferstotheGreaterBostonHospitality(GBHE)Local26hotelsas,“Boston’sbesthospitalityemployers”. Andtheyare.GBHEsignatoryemployersintheTaftHartleylabormanagementpartnershipprovidequalityjobs,
includinggoodwagesandcomprehensivebenefits.
BEST’sprogrammingensuresthatthesehotelshavetheskilledtalenttheyneedtocompeteina
competitiveandgrowingindustry.Brianreferstothis
labor-managementpartnershipasan“anti-povertytool”,
movingthousandsoflow-wagehospitalityworkersfromworking
poorintothemiddleclass.
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Local26/GreaterBostonHotelEmployees
72%
Contributions5%
GovernmentFunding14%
Foundations&Grants
9%
Local26/GreaterBostonHotelEmployees
68%
Contributions5%
GovernmentFunding18%
Foundations&Grants9%
FY15
FY16
REVENUE SOURCES
BESTSTAFF
NellyChanCareerCoach
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MarieF.Downey,ExecutiveDirectorJoanAbbot,AssistantDirector
MaryCronin,DirectorofOperationsandSkillsTrainingChristyBetit,AssistantDirectorofSkillsTraining
NellyChan,CareerCoachHuiling Chen,EducationProgramManager
JoeCoughlin,FinancialControllerEdwinGonzalez,IntakeCoordinator
Shery B.Murphy,DirectorofEmploymentServicesAishaNecoechea,WorkforceDevelopmentStrategist
MeiNgo,TechandEnglishInstructorLoriSylvia,ApprenticeshipProgramDirectorBrendaRichardson,FrontOfficeAssistant
JerryWheelock,DatabaseLeadPatrickYu,EveningOfficeAssistant
BESTBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Abrigal ForresterBoardPresident
Sr.LouiseKearns,SNDTreasurerandClerk
AnthonyL.GilardiDirector
SuzanneLeeDirector
Aparna RameshDirector
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AloftBostonSeaportAmesBostonHotel
BatteryWharfHotelBostonWaterfrontBostonParkPlazaColonnadeHotel
CopleySquareHotelCourtyardbyMarriottCambridge
CourtyardbyMarriottLoganAirportDoubleTree SuitesbyHiltonBoston-Cambridge
ElementBostonSeaportTheFairmontCopleyPlazaHotel
HamptonInnHiltonBostonBackBay
HiltonBostonLoganAirportHiltonBostonDowntown– FaneuilHallHiltonGardenInnBostonLoganAirport
HotelCommonwealthHyattPlaceBraintree
InterContinentalBostonLeMeridien Cambridge-MIT
TheLenoxHotelLoewsBostonHotel
NineZeroOmniParkerHouse
RenaissanceBostonWaterfrontHotelTheRitz-CarltonBostonSheratonBostonHotel
SheratonCommanderHotelTajBostonWBoston
TheWestinBostonWaterfrontTheWestinCopleyPlaceBoston
PARTICIPATING HOTELS
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GreaterBostonHospitalityEmployersLocal26BenefitsAdministration,LLCBoston’sLocal26UNITEHERE
BostonMayor’sOfficeofWorkforceDevelopmentCommonwealthCorporation
DepartmentofIndustrialAccidentsEasternBankSkillWorks
TheBostonFoundationTheHermanandFriedaL.MillerFoundationTheUnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor
UnitedWay
SUPPORTERS