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FY '15 and FY '16 Biennial Report

LetterfromtheExecutiveDirector.

In2006,BESTopeneditsdoorstoofferoneESLclass,acitizenshipprepclass,andabanquetserverclasstoLocal26memberswitheducationbenefits.Tenyearslater,in2016,therewere491classenrollments,ofbothincumbenthotelworkersandjobseekers.OurcoursesnowincludesixlevelsofEnglish,computers,culinaryskillsandindustry-specificcertificationsandtrainingslikefoodsafetyandergonomics.We’veleveragedthefundingforourincumbentworkerstoraisefundsforjobseekertraining.Ourannualbudgethasgrownfrom$250,000in2007toover$1.3millioninFY2016.Thisbiennialreportwilltellyouwhatweachievedoverthelasttwofiscalyears.

Ourpartnersincludeover40hospitalityemployersandUNITEHERElocal26;city,state,federal,andprivatefunders;ourgrowingstaffandengagedvolunteers.Ourstudentsprovidetheengine,steam,andinspirationforwhatwedo.

Today,BESTisanationalmodelofwhatasuccessfullabor-managementpartnershipcanachievewhenwefindcommonground:workerswhoarewellpaidandreceivecomprehensivebenefitswanttoexcelinandretaintheirjobs.Awell-trainedworkforcereducesthecostsofturnoverandaccidents.Happyworkersbringmorebusiness.Communitiesandneighborhoodsbenefitaswell.Goodjobsleadtobetterlives.

ThemissionofBESTHospitalityTrainingistoprovideindividualswiththeeducation,skillsandtrainingto

excelinthehospitalityindustryandintheirpersonallives.

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• LaunchedMelKingEmpowermentProgram

• Launchedfirstbrand-specifictrainingfortwonewhotels(CVProperties/Starwood)

• BecameDepartmentofLaborregisteredHousekeepingPre-ApprenticeshipProgram

• OpenedjobseekertrainingspaceinDudleySquare

• WhiteHouseUpSkill Summit

• FirstprizeinHarvardKSGPhilanthropyClassCompetition

• WonsecondprizeinNationalWishUponaStarcompetition

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“BESThasareallygreathostoffolksthatgiveyoutheirall.”–DoeTogbah,computerstudent

“IloveBESTbecauseithelpsmewithmyconfidenceinspeakingEnglish.”– MayaChuke,EFHstudent

“Studentsareincrediblyhard-working…Ithasbeenveryrewardingtoseestudentsimprovenotjusttheirmathskills,buttheirself-confidence.IthasbeenaprivilegetohelpBESTHospitalityTrainingpursueitsmission.”– JimWiess,BESTvolunteer

2015-2016HIGHLIGHTS

RECOGNITIONS

617

541

229166 161 149

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

EnglishforHospitality

Certifications TechnologyWorkshops

CitizenshipClass JobSeekerClass Others

FY15–FY16 ENROLLMENTS BY COURSE CATEGORY

1693

170

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

FY15–FY16 ENROLLMENTS BY STUDENTS

Local26EligibleHospitalityWorkersJobSeekers

29%

29%

17%

11%

8% 6%

FY15–FY16PRIMARYLANGUAGESTOP6OUTOF36

English Spanish Cantonese Chinese HaitianCreole Arabic

3

5

35%

28%

15%

8%

8% 6%

FY15–FY16COUNTRYOFORIGINTOP6OUTOF69

China UnitedStates Haiti

Colombia ElSalvador DominicanRepublic

35%

29%

23%

9% 4%

FY15–FY16ETHNICITY

BlackorAfricanAmerican(notHispanic) Asian

HispanicorLatino White(notHispanic)

Other

9

12

12

13

16

20

0 5 10 15 20 25

TheWestinCopleyPlaceBoston

SheratonBostonHotelandTowers

FairmontCopleyPlazaHotel

TheWestinBostonWaterfront

AloftHotel

TheBostonParkPlazaHotel

FY15–FY16 BEST JOB SEEKER P LACEMENTS BY EMPLOYERTOP 6

“WewerethrilledtobeabletodirectourjobslinkagefundstoafantasticorganizationlikeBESTHospitalityTraining.TheywillprovidegreattrainingandpreparationfortheworkerswhowillserveourguestsatthenewAloftandElementhotelsonDStreet.”

- DickGalvinPresident&FounderCVProperties,LLC

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PROGRAMS

JobSeekerOfferings(fundedbycity,state,andprivatefoundations)

RoomAttendant/Housekeeping Program

DepartmentofLaborRegisteredPre-ApprenticeshipHousekeeping Program

Introduction toHospitalityProgram/MelKingEmpowermentProgram

IncumbentWorkerProgram(fundedby employers)

Sixlevels ofEnglishforHospitality

Computers

USCitizenshipPreparation

BasicCulinarySkills

ProfessionalFood Server

IndustryCertifications:CPR/AED,FoodSafety, andTiPS(safeservingofalcohol)

• MovefromChinatowntoMedford

• FullystaffDudleytrainingsite

• Expandapprenticeshipprogram

• Prepareforcasinohiring

• PartnermorecloselywithBunkerHillCommunityCollege

VISION FOR 2017-2018

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Saudatou DiallocametotheU.S.fromGuineain2011withherthreechildren.ShecametotheUnitedStatesbecauseshewantedtochangeherlife.“Here,youworkandearnmoney.InAfrica,youworkanddon’tearnmoney.”WhenshecametotheU.S.shefirstworkedinahair-braidingsalon,andaftersixmonths,shestartedtakingclassesatABCD.Then,sheappliedforaretailjob.Overthethreeyearssheworkedinretail,shemovedupfromcleanertocashierasherEnglishimproved.AtTarget,sheworkedasmuchas36hoursaweekwhenitwasbusy,andothertimesaslittleas11hours/week.Shestartedat$8.75andeventuallyherhourlywagecameupto$10.33.Sheneverreceivedbenefitsbecauseshewasnotfulltime.Itwouldtakeher1.5hourstogettowork,fromDorchestertoWatertown.

SUCCESS STORIES

AfriendtoldheraboutBEST’strainingandshewasadmittedtotheRoomAttendantTrainingProgram.ShewashiredasahousekeeperattheOmniParkerHouseinMay2015.Now,workisonlyhalfanhouraway.Shemakesover$20/hourand,asamemberofUNITEHERELocal26,shereceivescomprehensiveemployersponsoredbenefits.Aspartofthebenefitplan,shetookBEST’sEnglishclassesandaCPRclassandgotCPRcertified.ShealsotookBEST’sUScitizenshipprepclassand,inMay2016,shebecameaUScitizen.“Mydreamisformykidsistogotocollegeandhaveabetterjobandbetterlife.IthinktheirliveswillchangebecauseIhaveanewjob.BeforeIwastoostressedandIcouldn’tpaymybills.NowIhavemoneytopaymybillsandmystressislow.”We’vejustreceivedwordthatinSeptember2017,Saudatou’s daughterwillenrollasafreshmanatBridgewaterStateCollege.

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KatrinaHinesgraduatedfromthesecond2015MKEPclassonAugust7,2015.ThefollowingMonday,August10,shemetLisaBrandi,StarwoodRegionalTalentAcquisitionManageratourJobFair.OnAugust18,shewasaskedtoapplyforahousekeepingpositionattheSheraton.ShestartedworkingthereinSeptember,andnowearns$20.43/hour.

ForKatrina,movingfromunemployedtoemployedchangedheroutlookonlife:"AsayoungAfricanAmericanwomangrowingupwithdifferentjobslikeworkingatSave-a-Lotandotherretailstores,Idevelopedafrustratedandnegativeoutlook.Iusedtobeanegativethinker,fullofself-doubt.

SUCCESS STORIES

NowIhavetheconfidenceandtoolstodowhatIneed."Katrinasaysherjobhasimpactedherdaughter:"We’redoingalotmorethingsnowandsituationsthatusedtostressmeoutdon’tanymore.Icantellshenotices.Andshe’sreapingthebenefits."

Heroutlookonlifeandplansforthefuturearebright:"IfeelasifIhavesomuchmoretoprove.I’vegottenthisjob.It’sjustthebeginning.Andmymindismadeup.There’snogoingback.I’monlygoingforwardandIwantthisforotherswhothinkthey’reattheendoftheroadindead-endjobs.Striveformore.Keepworkinghard."

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Movingpeopleintoqualityjobs

SinceBEST’sinceptionin2004,BESThasadvocatedforpoliciesthathelpmovelow-wageworkersintojobsthatpayalivingwage.BESThasledthechargeon“qualitytrainingforqualityjobs”.BESTSocialReturnonInvestmentandreputationforqualitytrainingleadingtoqualityjobshasbeenrecognizedasamodelprogram.

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION

“Ihavethisprofoundloveandappreciationforpeoplewhodothekindofworkthat’sgoingoninservice,inhotels,hospitals… andwe’rejust

beginningtogettoseethattheygettheremunerationthattheydeserveandthattheirworkisasvaluabletoanykindofworkthatanybodydoes.”– MelKing

“ThecityofBoston’srelationshipwithLocal26andtheBESTCorpfallsrightinlinewithsomeofourtoppriorities.We’reworkingtohelpwomenandpeopleofcolorovercomeobstaclesandsecuregoodjobsandgoodemployment.We’reworkingtoensure

safetyandhealthandgoodworkingconditions.Andwe’reboostingourlocaleconomyupbysupportingworkingfamilies.Sothisisawin-win-winalltheway

around.”– MayorWalsh

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Highlightingthelabor-managementrelationship:

UNITEHERELocal26PresidentBrianLangismakingwavesinBoston.Positivewaves.BrianreferstotheGreaterBostonHospitality(GBHE)Local26hotelsas,“Boston’sbesthospitalityemployers”. Andtheyare.GBHEsignatoryemployersintheTaftHartleylabormanagementpartnershipprovidequalityjobs,

includinggoodwagesandcomprehensivebenefits.

BEST’sprogrammingensuresthatthesehotelshavetheskilledtalenttheyneedtocompeteina

competitiveandgrowingindustry.Brianreferstothis

labor-managementpartnershipasan“anti-povertytool”,

movingthousandsoflow-wagehospitalityworkersfromworking

poorintothemiddleclass.

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Local26/GreaterBostonHotelEmployees

72%

Contributions5%

GovernmentFunding14%

Foundations&Grants

9%

Local26/GreaterBostonHotelEmployees

68%

Contributions5%

GovernmentFunding18%

Foundations&Grants9%

FY15

FY16

REVENUE SOURCES

BESTSTAFF

NellyChanCareerCoach

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MarieF.Downey,ExecutiveDirectorJoanAbbot,AssistantDirector

MaryCronin,DirectorofOperationsandSkillsTrainingChristyBetit,AssistantDirectorofSkillsTraining

NellyChan,CareerCoachHuiling Chen,EducationProgramManager

JoeCoughlin,FinancialControllerEdwinGonzalez,IntakeCoordinator

Shery B.Murphy,DirectorofEmploymentServicesAishaNecoechea,WorkforceDevelopmentStrategist

MeiNgo,TechandEnglishInstructorLoriSylvia,ApprenticeshipProgramDirectorBrendaRichardson,FrontOfficeAssistant

JerryWheelock,DatabaseLeadPatrickYu,EveningOfficeAssistant

BESTBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Abrigal ForresterBoardPresident

Sr.LouiseKearns,SNDTreasurerandClerk

AnthonyL.GilardiDirector

SuzanneLeeDirector

Aparna RameshDirector

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AloftBostonSeaportAmesBostonHotel

BatteryWharfHotelBostonWaterfrontBostonParkPlazaColonnadeHotel

CopleySquareHotelCourtyardbyMarriottCambridge

CourtyardbyMarriottLoganAirportDoubleTree SuitesbyHiltonBoston-Cambridge

ElementBostonSeaportTheFairmontCopleyPlazaHotel

HamptonInnHiltonBostonBackBay

HiltonBostonLoganAirportHiltonBostonDowntown– FaneuilHallHiltonGardenInnBostonLoganAirport

HotelCommonwealthHyattPlaceBraintree

InterContinentalBostonLeMeridien Cambridge-MIT

TheLenoxHotelLoewsBostonHotel

NineZeroOmniParkerHouse

RenaissanceBostonWaterfrontHotelTheRitz-CarltonBostonSheratonBostonHotel

SheratonCommanderHotelTajBostonWBoston

TheWestinBostonWaterfrontTheWestinCopleyPlaceBoston

PARTICIPATING HOTELS

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GreaterBostonHospitalityEmployersLocal26BenefitsAdministration,LLCBoston’sLocal26UNITEHERE

BostonMayor’sOfficeofWorkforceDevelopmentCommonwealthCorporation

DepartmentofIndustrialAccidentsEasternBankSkillWorks

TheBostonFoundationTheHermanandFriedaL.MillerFoundationTheUnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor

UnitedWay

SUPPORTERS