Opening Doors: How Community Partnerships Create Opportunity in Workforce Development 

Opportunity is more than access—it’s empowerment. It’s the moment when a door opens and a person steps through with the skills, support, and confidence to pursue something better. Thanks to dedicated community partners, students in the Workforce Development Career Training programs are finding new pathways to success. 

For many adults seeking to enter the workforce, financial constraints remain a major hurdle. Scholarships made possible by community partners help remove these barriers and affirm that everyone deserves a fair shot, regardless of where they start. 

Through a collaboration with Say Yes Buffalo, students in the Barbering and Cosmetology programs can now receive scholarships of up to $5,000. This opportunity provides more than just financial support, it gives students time and space to focus on mastering their craft and preparing for meaningful employment in an industry full of potential. 

Similarly, the partnership with O’mazing O’pportunities reflects a shared commitment to helping individuals launch careers in the skilled trades. Thanks to this continued collaboration, funds have been directed toward scholarships for our Building Maintenance and other Trades and Manufacturing programs, allowing adult learners to access quality training in high-demand areas like plumbing, electrical, general construction, and more. 

These partnerships illustrate a powerful truth: when a community invests in its people, everyone benefits. Students gain the tools to thrive. Employers gain a skilled and motivated workforce. And society moves one step closer to equity. Erie 1 BOCES remains grateful for these continued partnerships and collective goal of helping to shape futures for skilled trade professionals. 

“Providing opportunity means more than delivering curriculum—it means creating a support system that believes in someone’s future,” says Christa McHale, Director of Workforce Development at Erie 1 BOCES. “The work we do is magnified when we collaborate with organizations who understand the impact of lifting others up. That’s how real change happens.”