Center for Workforce Initiatives

About Us

The Center for Workforce Initiatives (CWI) at Community College of Denver helps to connect employers, workers, students, and other community partners to develop paths toward career advancement and sustainable employment within targeted industries. Through innovative programming, CWI helps CCD to meet the educational needs of working adults (including lower-income adults) and also assists our employer partners in developing a high-quality workforce.

Community & Campus Services

The Center for Workforce Initiatives provides the following services:

  • Co-convenes WORKNOW, a construction-focused employment platform presented by the Colorado Resource Partners (CORE) collective. Learn more about WORKNOW.
  • Supports CCD's Foundational Skills Institute (FSI) and the Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI), aimed to help parents and guardians of young children access certificates and careers in high-demand industries. Learn more about SWFI.
  • Designs or supports industry-focused workforce programming and customized training for internal CCD departments and external community partners through resources such as the Colorado First and existing industry training grants.
  • Aligns with CCD's Career and Transfer Center and the public workforce system to provide career navigation services to students and community members.
  • Provides consultation to support regional and national workforce development innovation that is demand-driven, career-pathway focused, and highly collaborative.

Community Services

CWI helps you build the skills to attain not just a job, but a career. We offer resources to connect you with middle-skills jobs in high-demand industries across metro Denver. Our community services include:

  • Guidance on high-growth occupations and career pathway development.
  • General work skills or career search preparation.
  • Access to credit and non-credit training to support your technical skills development.
  • Supportive service and resource partners to help you understand and resolve potential barriers to successful employment or educational attainment.
  • Mentors and informal network opportunities to help you connect with employers in targeted industries.

Campus Services

Nationwide, community colleges are expanding their roles in workforce development beyond simply offering individual certification programs—increasingly, community colleges are more likely to offer an integrated set of services for entry-level and experienced workers that connect high-quality training programs with employment access.

Our campus resources include:

  • Industry-driven, non-credit certificate program opportunities offered through collaboration with CCD's Career and Technical Education departments.
  • Career development/career readiness workshops in collaboration with other campus departments, such as resume and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile development, and many more.
  • Connections to local employers for class presentations to help students develop realistic work expectations
  • Assists in developing bridge programs to support individuals with education or workforce barriers seeking entrance to CCD certificate programs