April Civic Dinner with Community Partners

April Civic Dinner - Economic Justice & Workforce Development

Please join us on Wednesday, April 8, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for an evening of food, networking, and learning from local advocates advancing economic justice and workforce development. Leaders will share information with us about their role in this advocacy work, provide insight into resources and relevant legislation, and share their current advocacy efforts. They will also provide feedback on how students can be effective advocates for this important social issue.

Our featured advocates include Jasmine Graddy, Director of Workforce Development at the North Shore CDC; Eliud Alcalá, Deputy Director of MassHire North Shore Career Center; and Nate Berkowitz, Executive Director of Root.

This event is only accepting 40 guests.
The dinner catered by Root will be held in the Petrowski Room (Marsh Dining Hall 210).

This event is hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, and Sustainability (CEEDS).

More about our advocates:

Jasmine Graddy is the Director of Workforce Development for the North Shore Community Development Coalition (North Shore CDC), a Salem-based organization devoted to helping communities thrive through affordable housing, economic and youth development, community engagement, small business assistance, and public art. She is responsible for overseeing the YouthBuild North Shore and the Students Taking Action in Neighborhood Development (programs), both centering youth voices to enact positive community-wide change.

Eliud Alcalá is the Deputy Director of MassHire North Shore Career Center, a local organization advancing equitable access to employment by connecting job seekers with career services and employers. Eliud’s passion and care ensure that each of his clients feels seen, supported, and empowered, whether a young adult finding their first job or a seasoned professional. He recently advanced a program called “Career Center on the Go!” which aims to meet job seekers in their communities through non-profits and community centers.

Nate Berkowitz is the Executive Director of Root, a Salem-based organization that works to both ensure workforce development for young people facing barriers to employment and to combat local food insecurity. Nate draws on his 20+ years of experience in the hospitality industry to inform his passion and commitment to equipping young people with skills and opportunities through hands-on culinary training, career development, and wraparound support, while also fighting food insecurity through social enterprise initiatives.