Empowering Women in the Workforce
CWDB is proud to spotlight projects that expand women’s opportunities to secure good-paying jobs. CWDB supports grantees in creating job quality, equity, and career advancement for disadvantaged workers, including women.
Participants receive training and wrap-around supportive services to improve access to quality employment opportunities that can lead to long-term careers.
By prioritizing the recruitment of women, CWDB grantees foster greater workforce diversity and address regional disparities. Check out the individual stories below to see how CWDB has helped female participants achieve their employment goals.
Linda Thai
Graduate, BRIC Apprenticeship
Linda Thai was a toy designer earning entry-level wages when she learned about BRIC Foundation’s Animation, Visual Effects, and Gaming (AVG) Apprenticeship Program. The apprenticeship is a federally and state-recognized program that combines paid on-the-job training with mentorship and job-related academic instruction to support young people and veterans of all backgrounds in obtaining entry-level jobs across Animation, Visual Effects, and Gaming.
Linda loved drawing as a child. “I drew on my classwork, copied art from library books, and scribbled all over my sketchbook.” Although she found art fun, she never saw it as a potential career path. “It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that my love for art reawakened when I watched Batman: The Animated Series; it made me realize that I wanted to be a storyboard artist.”
“Without BRIC, I wouldn’t have had this amazing opportunity with Warner Bros. Production Animation,” said Linda. She added, “I am much more financially stable now and one step closer to my goal, thanks to BRIC!“
While working to boost her portfolio, she discovered the Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships grant-funded apprenticeship on social media. “BRIC’s on-the-job paid training seemed like an incredible opportunity since I was used to unpaid animation internships,” said Linda.
The BRIC Apprenticeship solidified her passion for animation. She loved her team and the project she was working on. “I really felt the improvement I made in the six months,” she said. After the 6-month apprenticeship was over, she was hired at Warner Bros and is now working in her dream career.