Mayor Wu Announces New Cabinet for Worker Empowerment to Advance Rights and Well-being of Workers

Mayor Michelle Wu right this moment introduced the creation of the Cupboard for Employee Empowerment led by Trinh Nguyen who will function the Metropolis’s Chief of Employee Empowerment. The Cupboard, geared up with oversight and assets, is charged with advancing the well-being of all working Bostonians in each the private and non-private sectors. The Mayor additionally introduced that Jodi Sugerman-Brozan and Rashad Cope will each function the cupboard’s Deputy Chiefs. 

“Boston can accomplish that far more to advance and empower staff throughout all of our neighborhoods,” stated Mayor Michelle Wu. “Our economic system is at a turning level, and as we work to get well from the impacts of the pandemic, we’ll assist certainly one of Boston’s best strengths: our workforce and other people. After we make Boston a metropolis for everybody, each household and enterprise advantages from our development. I’m thrilled for Trinh, Jodi and Rashad’s management, and sit up for collaborating with this new cupboard on insurance policies and packages that drive this significant work ahead for all Boston staff and their communities.”

The Cupboard will advance the Mayor’s work to reinforce and strengthen Boston’s workforce and economic system by:

• Bringing collectively associated roles and features that had been unfold throughout a number of metropolis departments and companies underneath a single, unified cupboard
• Setting the Metropolis’s future coverage and imaginative and prescient for staff with an instantaneous concentrate on implementing Boston’s Inexperienced New Deal 
• Regulating, overseeing and enhancing office situations and well being for staff
• Increasing financial alternative for staff via entry to high quality jobs, expertise trainings and profession pipelines  

This newly fashioned cupboard, led by Chief Nguyen, will guarantee higher accountability and coordination, and intently align employee empowerment coverage and packages with the administration’s broader dedication of guaranteeing Boston is a protected, wholesome and local weather resilient metropolis for all. Led by Nguyen, the Cupboard for Employee Empowerment will play a serious position in implementing Boston’s Inexperienced New Deal for Boston Public Faculties, which incorporates creating inexperienced jobs with livable wages, good advantages, and powerful employee protections throughout the town. 

“I’m excited, honored and humbled by this nice alternative to serve the Metropolis and its residents,” stated Trinh Nguyen. “Boston has lately skilled great financial development and prosperity, nonetheless, the longer term guarantees even better alternatives if we prioritize equal entry to high quality jobs and expertise coaching for all Bostonians. We sit up for participating with employers, staff and private and non-private stakeholders in the direction of this collective imaginative and prescient.”

Trinh Nguyen is the present Director of the Mayor’s Workplace of Workforce Growth (OWD), an affiliated division of the Boston Planning & Growth Company (BPDA). As Director of OWD, she has launched such initiatives because the Tuition-Free Neighborhood School Program, the Higher Boston American Apprenticeships, and varied profession pathways for the healthcare, clear vitality and building sectors. Previous to her position at OWD, Nguyen was the Chief of Workers on the Boston Housing Authority.

Nguyen has almost 25 years of expertise in operations, packages, useful resource, and finances administration. She has labored in govt administration for varied group non-profits and public sector companies. She is at present Chair of the Neighborhood Jobs Belief, a Trustee of the U.S. Convention of Mayors Workforce Growth Council, and a Trustee of Bunker Hill Neighborhood School. Nguyen holds twin graduate levels and an MBA from MIT’s Sloan College of Administration and was a group fellow at MIT’s Division of City Planning. 

Deputy Chiefs Jodi Sugerman-Brozan and Rashad Cope will work with Chief Nguyen to execute  the Cupboard’s key priorities, akin to office security and workforce profession pipelines respectively. 

Deputy Chief Sugerman-Brozan will concentrate on enhancing oversight of labor requirements in addition to strengthening and constructing a tradition of office security and well being throughout the town. Just lately, the Metropolis of Boston has continued to see a spread of preventable office incidents and fatalities, notably on building websites throughout the Metropolis. The Cupboard will play a serious position in understanding what’s inflicting these incidents and creating and implementing prevention methods.

“I’m extremely excited to hitch the brand new Cupboard for Employee Empowerment,” stated Jodi Sugerman-Brozan. “I need to thank Mayor Wu for this chance and for her dedication to staff rights and well being and security in Boston.  Just like the Mayor, I consider that every one staff ought to have the ability to come dwelling to their households alive and effectively, particularly within the Metropolis that I name dwelling.  I can not wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”

Sugerman-Brozan at present serves because the Govt Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Security and Well being (MassCOSH). Throughout her tenure with MassCOSH, she has targeted on the position of employee harm and ache on opiate dependancy within the office and security protocols regarding COVID-19. She has additionally performed a key position within the implementation of the regulation that extends OSHA stage protections to public sector staff as a member of the Division of Labor Requirements’ Security & Well being Advisory Board.  Previous to becoming a member of MassCOSH, she had 22 years of expertise with environmental non-profits, specializing in a variety of points together with the consequences of environmental elements akin to diesel exhaust on bronchial asthma charges and different respiratory afflictions. Sugerman-Brozan holds a Masters Diploma in City and Environmental Coverage from Tufts College. 

Deputy Chief Cope will primarily coordinate and construct on the work of the Metropolis’s workforce employment initiatives. He’ll concentrate on setting up essential profession pipelines between the Metropolis and Boston’s academic establishments, and guaranteeing staff are related with job alternatives and talent packages. 

“I’m past excited to step into this position to advance the Mayor’s priorities round workforce empowerment,” stated Rashad Cope. “Thanks to Mayor Wu, and Chief Nguyen in your dedication to coaching and pathway growth for staff. Boston has a thriving group of present and rising professionals that may actually profit from reskilling and upskilling alternatives to assist their development and success within the office. I recognize the great second to serve our metropolis on this capability.”

Cope at present serves the Metropolis of Boston, as Director of the Division of Youth Engagement & Employment – the place he supplies management and oversight to advance the lives of Boston’s youth via packages and strategic partnerships with stakeholders. He’s accountable for creating an in depth technique and youth growth plan that addresses inequities, improves high quality outcomes and elevates the work of: hiring youth within the Mayor’s Summer season Jobs Program (by way of the SuccessLink Program); strengthening youth profession & talent  growth and academic coaching; participating youth in civic alternatives, connecting youth to companies and assets; and amplifying the voices of youth.

Cope is a proud native of the Metropolis of Boston. He earned a Bachelors of Science (B.S) and a Masters of Enterprise Administration (M.B.A.) from Fitchburg State College; and a Masters of Science (MS Ed.) in Schooling Research; and a Nonprofit Organizational Management Graduate Certificates from Wheelock School. Rashad’s drive comes from being a triplet and a loving and devoted father of son Tavaj O. Cope.

Mayor Michelle Wu has been a constant and equitable champion for Boston staff via uplifting the work of crucial labor unions, advocacy organizations and guaranteeing that Boston is a metropolis for everybody. Mayor Wu has reaffirmed the appropriate of all staff to prepare and discount collectively and expanded alternatives for all to share in Boston’s financial prosperity.  In 2015, then-Metropolis Councilor Michelle Wu authored and handed laws guaranteeing parental go away for metropolis staff. In 2018, then-Metropolis Councilor Wu filed laws to ascertain a Truthful Work Week for staff at city-contracted firms.