Maryland State Leaders Praise Featherstone Foundation's Multilingual Workforce Initiative

BALTIMORE, March 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The award-winning William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation celebrated the graduates of its innovative workforce program, Reaching New Heights. The initiative has been an economic engine that has provided underemployed and unemployed multicultural trainees with professional careers, stronger household incomes and financial stability. 

"We serve as an incubator of bilingual talent and pipeline for employers to tap qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds," said Lanaea C. Featherstone, CEO, Featherstone Foundation and member of the OSI-Baltimore Community Fellows' Network. "Employment is one of the most powerful economic vehicles that bolsters communities."

"It is vital for corporation like ours to be proactive in seeking and retaining bilingual talent. Partnerships like this one with the Featherstone Foundations allows us to diversify our workforce and be better equipped to serve our communities," said Lourdes Montes-Greenan, vice president for community development banking, PNC. "Nowadays diversity is key for success in any industry; that's why we have been very proud to support the Reaching New Heights program since its inception." PNC's Lourdes Montes-Greenan provided the keynote address.

Maryland's Deputy Secretary of State Luis E. Borunda, the first Hispanic to serve in that role, provided remarks on behalf of the Governor. "It was amazing to watch this American quilt of emerging leaders," he said describing the success of the graduates.

Dwayne Redd, State Farm's public affairs field specialist, unveiled its support of the Foundation and announced a $20,000 grant to continue and further its community work.  Commissioner of Financial Regulation Antonio P. Salazar, Maryland's top financial regulator who oversees the 45 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies with assets totaling over $300 billion, also provided congratulatory remarks to the graduates. 

The program is open to all bilingual candidates who would like to pursue professional careers. Congratulations to our 2019 honorees:

• Ambrose Barigye
• Matthew Barreto
• Boubacar Dia, State Farm
• Yefri Hernández, BB&T Bank
• Awa Hoppenjan, Baltimore County Public School System
• Jennifer Marquez, PNC Bank
• Stephanie Matos, Howard Bank
• Adama Traore, SB & Company
• Batseba Tesfay, Asylee Women Enterprise

Candidates were selected through a competitive application process to participate in this 14-week workforce program; they received their certificates of completion February 23, 2019.

Partners include: BB&T, Bank of America, Baltimore County Public Library, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, PNC, State Farm and Wells Fargo.

SOURCE The William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation