MassMutual Foundation Supports Square One’s Workforce Development Initiatives

SPRINGFIELD — In support of Square One’s multi-dimensional approach to serving families in Greater Springfield, the MassMutual Foundation recently provided the agency with a $100,000 grant to continue to provide education and workforce training to youth throughout the region.

The funds will be used to support the agency’s YouthWorks and Learn & Earn initiatives. These programs provide youth and young adults, ages 14-25, with the opportunity to earn their high-school equivalency diploma and develop career-building expertise and skills that will prepare them for their professional careers. Through partnerships with area employers, participants in these programs also earn money and receive valuable training and workplace experience.

“When organizations like Square One have the resources they need to grow, entire communities benefit,” said Dennis Duquette, MassMutual’s head of Community Responsibility and president of the MassMutual Foundation. “We’re thrilled to support Square One’s vision for a full-service campus that will create life-changing opportunities for children, young adults, and families in the Greater Springfield area.”

In addition to receiving support from the MassMutual Foundation and others, the program is largely funded through a grant from MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board and through the YouthWorks program of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The program is administered by the Commonwealth Corp.. Together, these funds cover the salaries and expenses of the program participants, creating a risk-free experience for area employers and a rich learning opportunity for the region’s youth.

“We are so grateful for our longstanding partnership with the MassMutual Foundation — not only for their generous funding, but also for their shared commitment to building a community with a strong workforce and thriving families,” said Dawn DiStefano, Square One president and CEO. “This support comes at a critical time, as our YouthWorks and Learn & Earn programs continue to expand to meet the growing needs of our community.”

A renovation project is currently underway at Square One to create a dedicated space for these two programs. Once completed, the building, donated by the Balise Auto family and located adjacent to Square One’s new early learning center in Springfield’s South End neighborhood, will help establish a full-service Square One campus.