About Us

JFF’s National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility provides strategies and customized support to employers, education providers, intermediaries, and government entities to drive diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in Registered Apprenticeship.

Our goal is to improve access and outcomes for women, people of color, people with disabilities, workers who live in rural communities, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system.

The Innovation Hub is a United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence and is operated by JFF’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all Americans—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or location—have equal access to Registered Apprenticeship, leading to career advancement and economic mobility.

Our Mission

We drive changes in the Registered Apprenticeship system that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for populations that have not had access to the promise of apprenticeship.

We do this by:

• Advancing employer efforts to build diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible Registered Apprenticeship programs
• Building partnerships to create sustainable change in Registered Apprenticeship programs
• Informing systems and policy change by elevating promising and innovative practices that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in Registered Apprenticeship
  
  

Our Approach

To establish diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and high-quality pre-apprenticeships, the Innovation Hub works with employers, intermediaries, community-based organizations, educational partners, workforce boards, and government agencies to:

• Assess and support organizational readiness in implementing practices to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in a Registered Apprenticeship program.
• Implement customized diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategies for recruitment, mentorship, related instruction, and retention services at Registered Apprenticeship employers and their partners.
• Integrate data and apprentice voice within the design of Registered Apprenticeship programs.
• Build the capacity of intermediaries, community-based organizations, and educational partners to effectively engage in building equitable Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.

The Innovation Hub is one of four Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence developed under a four-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor:

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Center (operated by JFF)
• Strategic Partnerships and System Alignment Center (operated by Safal Partners)
• Registered Apprenticeship Occupations and Standards Center (operated by Urban Institute)
• Data and Performance and Best Practices Center (operated by the Council of State Governments)

About JFF

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the American workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all.  www.jff.org

About JFF’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning

JFF is a national nonprofit that drives transformation in the American workforce and education systems. For nearly 40 years, JFF has led the way in designing innovative and scalable solutions that create access to economic advancement for all. In 2017, JFF launched the Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning (the Center) to spur mainstream adoption of equitable, innovative, and high-quality apprenticeship and work-based learning programs. The Center works to expand apprenticeship and work-based learning programs into new industries and fosters access and success for a broader, more diverse group of workers. Learn more at www.jff.org/center.

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of DOL/ETA. DOL/ETA makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.

Learn more at apprenticeship.gov.