Although we often use our spotlight articles to feature new staff members, we’d like to re-introduce you to one of our team members, Howard Feldstein, who joined us in July of 2019!
As a Program Manager, Howard runs several services through NW Works, including managing our Career Services team, formerly known as our Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. In addition, he provides support for Therapeutic Programs by researching and writing programming grants and by building relationships with business partners in the region.
Howard has worked in career services for a number of years, running employment training programs in Philadelphia and Boston under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (now known as TANF). After a nearly decade-long stint with the Northeast Massachusetts Workforce Development program, Howard pivoted to a career in digital mapping with the Netherlands-based company Tele Atlas. But his passion for helping others drew him back into workforce development. He moved to Arlington County to work in career services before transitioning to NW Works in 2019.
Howard believes when people have the opportunity to become financially self-sufficient, they have the opportunity to create generational change and build a future for themselves and their families.
“In this line of work, you teach a lot of skills. But the most important thing you can do is give hope,” he says. “If people don’t have hope about their future, nothing else will work. That’s the crux of what we do.”
When he’s not helping community members find meaningful employment, Howard enjoys visiting historical sites around the country and volunteering at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park,