Blog Post: Denver Employment Alliance

The Denver Employment Alliance (DEA) has been in operation for almost 10 years. The organization started as a collaboration of community based organizations (CBOs) needing to work together once welfare reform was passed at the state level. With CBOs moving closer to the public system there became a need to advocate for changes and develop a collective voice to be heard by government.

Collective action began with the issue of payment lags from the city. On behalf of the entire group, a few representatives went to the city auditor and demanded improvements. Though they ruffled some feathers, payment lags did decrease and, perhaps more important, the agencies gained confidence in being able to act as a group. By 1998 DEA held a retreat and for the first time reached a level of trust that allowed CBOs to disclose the per-participant costs each was charging. Soon they began to see how they could act collaboratively to prevent themselves from being undercut. Fueled by the knowledge that other coalitions across the country were beginning to see some degree of success and buoyed by the Enterprise Foundation’s willingness to provide administrative support, the Denver Employment Alliance began to take shape.

DEA developed a “map of services” to increase cooperation and decrease duplication among member providers, who worked jointly on funding proposals and employer relations. DEA has now become a critical point of contact for the Denver Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (now called the Denver Division of Workforce Development).

Although common issues with public funders catalyzed the establishment of DEA, other advantages of working together soon became clear. Program leaders began to discuss the issues surrounding quality services and developed plans for providing training for staff across organizations. Initially with the assistance of the Enterprise Foundation, DEA brought in a consultant to offer one-day training, “Everyone is Employable.” DEA now offers an annual training conference, regular trainings to its members1 and hosts a monthly roundtable discussion to foster improved efficiency between CBOs and the Denver Division of Workforce Development.

The workforce development environment has transformed within the past 10 years, and DEA’s activities have evolved over time. On April 20, 2007, the DEA board of directors and executive director met to determine a focused, strategic direction for the organization. The following were identified as DEA’s core functions: 

Advocacy: Influencing public policy.

Connecting: Member organizations with member organizations; Staff with staff; Member organizations with employers; Member organizations with government.

Educating: Provide professional development for member organizations’ staff; Communicate best practices to member organizations; Convey future trends in the sector; Educate government, employers and member organizations on how to work with each other.
Marketing: To funders, public, current member organizations, employers and prospective member organizations.

[1],Sheila Maguire, “Locally Grown: Key Strategies for Expanding Workforce Services” (Philadelphia : Public/Private Ventures, October 2006) 34-35.