Our History

August 2006: The Workforce Development Global Alliance was established by President and Founder Niecy Dennis and a Board of Directors is formed.

September 2006: First annual WDGA Benefit Dinner and Auction is held to raise funds for student training to become leaders in their communities and obtain employment opportunities to grow economic development.

January 2007: Additionally, a WDGA ‘Corporate Partners Alliance’ conference takes place in Nairobi

January 2007: WDGA student orientation program begin, where approximately 250 students from Kenya were selected by their peers and faculty members to become trainees. Participating schools in Kenya include: Lanet Umoja Primary, Kampi Ya Moto Primary, Kiti Primary, and Komoronoya Primary.

April 2007: WDGA held its student induction ceremony; leadership training sessions; HIV-Aids workshops; and parent orientation in Nakuru.

May 2007: WDGA students are taken on worksite tours and job shadow days at Nairobi and Nakuru companies; such as UPS and Davis & Shirtliff.

August 2007: WDGA’s honors students attend YMCA Kenyan Youth Leadership Camp in Mombasa, Kenya.

September 2007: WDGA hosts its 2nd Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction with special guest: Marilyn McCoo-Davis

October 25, 2007: marks the arrival of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Pittsburgh for the ‘Ambassador of Hope’ awards ceremony.

November 2007: WDGA students begin career and talent assessment workshops in Nakuru and identify their professional goals. An educator workshop is also held for teachers and academic leaders from Kenya’s Ministry of Education.

January 2008: Violence erupted in Kenya due to the presidential election. Thousands of individuals lost their lives and many others were displaced. WDGA helped the Red Cross relief effort in Nakuru, Kenya. The academic performance of the students involved in the WDGA leadership training program improves by 62%.

April and May 2008: WDGA is in Nairobi and Nakuru for its first conference, bringing together corporate leaders, educators and students to build economic development in Kenya.

August 11, 2008: Second anniversary for the WDGA and the launch of the ‘Youth Peace Ambassador’ training program in the United States and Kenya.

2008: Workforce Development Global Alliance (WDGA) hosts a series of events on September 25 – 27, 2008 to begin the ‘Youth Peace Ambassador’ program in the U.S. Over 250 students were formally inducted into the program by WDGA Chairperson, Ambassador Dan Simpson. Hundreds of people turned out for a Peace Walk and Peace Vigil in the streets of Pittsburgh to support WDGA’s efforts to stop violence.