National Skills Coalition

It's no secret, National Skills Coalition is turning 25! ?? Save the date to join us at the annual Skills Summit in Washington, D.C. to celebrate. Early bird registration opens in January 2025. https://lnkd.in/d-Rgi98S #NSCSkillsSummit

Reflecting on all I have to be grateful for, the incredible work and people that I've had the honor of spending this month with is top of mind! Started the month in NYC with the wonderful Siran Cao, who invited me to join Mirza's Board. I look forward to sharing higher ed insights while learning more about the incredible work Mirza does to bring childcare and other public assistance benefits to parents in school. I had the honor of chatting with Scholarship America's CEO Mike Nylund at their annual Irvine Innovation Awards where we announced ECMC Foundation's partnership to support the first National Single Mother Student Scholarship. Special thanks to my president, Jacob Fraire, Director, Sarah Belnick and colleague Jonathan T. R. for the support! A follow up announcement on the scholarship was made the following day at The White House's Classroom to Career Summit which was for the memory books! Thank you Abigail Seldin for the invitation and congratulations to Carrie Warick-Smith for Association of Community College Trustees' announcement on your upcoming apprenticeship partnerships! Last week I presented student parent data with an amazing panel of women: Theresa Anderson, Renee Ryberg, Brittani (Shaw) Williams, Ph.D., Afet Dundar, PhD, and Jennifer L. Turner, Ph.D. Lastly, I had the privilege of speaking with National Skills Coalition's Student Advisory Council on the importance of using your voice to advocate for change and policy. Student stories matter and they were all so inspiring! I'm beyond blessed to work at ECMC Foundation and partner with such bright and passionate leaders in the field of supporting parenting students - thankful only begins to cover it!

National Skills Coalition's state network coalition that I've been part of holds a special place in my heart. Just last month, we celebrated an incredible milestone: 5 years of SkillSPAN! ?? I’m excited to share an article written by my colleague Patrick Mortiere , which highlights the network's remarkable achievements over the years. From coalition-building and advancing digital equity to expanding college access, providing training opportunities, and offering supportive services, the impact has been inspiring. Here’s to many more years of growth, collaboration, and making a difference together! ???? https://lnkd.in/eruWXQvr

Thank you to Xinge Wang and Transit Workforce Center (TWC) for inviting me to moderate a discussion on empowering transit workers in the age of AI and automation at the recent Making Connections conference. It was great to hear from panelists representing labor unions, research institutions, and the private sector who are collaborating to use emerging technologies as a tool for supporting and empowering transit workers. Worker voice was a thread throughout the conversation. Workers, businesses, and communities benefit when people who are most familiar with the work – workers themselves— provide input on how technology is developed and deployed in the workplace and on how related training and upskilling programs are designed. National Skills Coalition

Wow! I had to pinch myself. I was on stage with Missy Henriksen, Maya Goodwin, and Maureen Conway, who are all part of the brain trust of leaders of impactful energy workforce development. It was a great morning to highlight the collective body of work from our U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Workforce Advisory Board (EWAB). Thank you! Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) Always Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, National Skills Coalition, Lumina Foundation, The Century Foundation, Urban Manufacturing Alliance

Last week, I had the privilege of delivering the opening keynote at the North Carolina Institute of Medicine's annual summit, where more than 200 leaders from across the state came together to discuss critical health and care issues. I shared my personal health journey and reflected on the vital role that direct care workers play—not just in our health and long-term care systems but in the fabric of our society. These workers provide invaluable support, yet too often they face low wages, limited opportunities for training or advancement, and a lack of respect and recognition. When direct care workers struggle, we all feel the impact. But as I emphasized in my remarks, change is possible—one moment at a time, building the momentum we need for a larger movement in support of care work. The time to act is now. Thank you: Emily Blake Hooks, Michelle Reiss, Kaitlin Phillips, Adam Sholar, and Deidre Bishop. Photography: Matthew Ramey h/t National Skills Coalition

Employers looking for a proven way to build their workforce should consider partnering with #AdultEducation programs to build an #apprenticeship pipeline. Partner with #COABE and the #CenterOfExcellence to learn more! #NAW24 #ROI #Workforce #AdultEducation #Partnership #Pipeline

Did you know? Workers in union households support policies that can bolster labor union’s efforts to build a more inclusive apprenticeship pipeline. #NAW2024 ?? 97% support expanding apprenticeship ?? 84% support increasing government funding for skills training ?? 87% support increasing funding for support services NSC's Public Perspectives series: https://lnkd.in/evhxbQ2S

“Millions of working people are seeking more opportunities to adapt to an evolving economy, yet our workforce and education systems fall short of providing everyone with an equal chance to achieve their career goals. In this context, National Skills Coalition remains steadfast in our commitment to advocate for policies that ensure every person in America has access to affordable skills training, career pathways to quality jobs, and supportive services like child care, long-term care, and transportation that make it possible for them to thrive in their jobs." Read my full statement at: https://ow.ly/I6pI50Ualxu

There's a national commitment to Registered Apprenticeships and the difference they make in our community! #NAW2024 Thank you, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, for stopping by #NSCSummit2024!