Problem: Although known for its mansions, Newport has issues with poverty, education and mobility. The Newport Working Cities team reports subpar graduation rates – 79 percent – high child-poverty rates – 24.4 percent – and a mass exodus, as the city has lost half of its population in the past 50 years.
Pitch: To create an integrated workforce-development system to prepare Newport residents who have low incomes, are unemployed or underemployed with the skills for higher-paying jobs.
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“REALLY THE GOAL is to prepare low-income and moderate-income residents of Newport for the modern jobs of the future,” said Sarah Atkins of the Department of Civic Investment for Newport. “We want to put something together that’s comprehensive for the city and results in a better-trained not only student body but also adults.”
Atkins is one of the leaders for the Newport Working Cities group and says the team has already been able to leverage some alternative funding, receiving $5,000 from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation to help facilitate the efforts.
“People think of Newport and they think of mansions, but we have … a 79 percent graduation rate in our high school,” Atkins said. “Clearly there’s a community in need.” •
