Thankful for YOU, Our Nation’s Workforce Leaders

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It’s now been over a year since I joined NAWB and over the past months I have been blessed to meet so many leaders within the public workforce system. Leaders like Billy in Flagstaff, Tamara in Austin, Jim in Tallahassee, Sean in Newport News, Amanda in Hudson, and many, many more. I’ve continued to be impressed with how committed they are – committed to the work, yes, but more significantly, committed to their communities.

They see the struggles small businesses have in finding talent to compete in a global market; they see families striving to break the cycle of generational poverty. They sit at the epicenter of work/workplace evolution and economies transforming – a place of great pressure and disruption.

What’s so inspiring is that these leaders – along with their local workforce boards and their teams – don’t just sit in that place. They are moved to action. They lean in, listen hard, adapt and innovate. 

I’ve been privileged to hear their stories and have been able to share some of them more broadly with you via our podcast, Workforce Central. If you haven’t tuned in before, I invite you to take some time to do so. You will be surprised by the innovation and inspired by the commitment of workforce board leaders from across the country.

So, on this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for all the leaders across our nation’s public workforce system, their willingness to lean in, adapt and learn, and drive towards greater impact for their communities. We at NAWB are honored to serve, support and represent you. 

-Brad

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

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NAWB looks forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) this year! This nationwide celebration brings together employers, labor organizations, community groups, workforce partners, educational institutions, government agencies and more to highlight the successes and importance of Registered Apprenticeship programs.

During the week of Nov. 17-23, we will join in the NAW festivities by showcasing the work of our partners, sharing events and messaging that demonstrate how apprenticeships create valuable career pathways to help individuals gain meaningful employment.

Here’s how we are honoring the theme of each day of NAW. Follow along on LinkedIn, X and Instagram using #NAW2024 and #NAWB. Feel free to use the sample social media posts we’ve provided.

 

Monday, Nov. 18: Youth and Young Adult Apprenticeship Day

We’ll share some apprenticeship stories from NAWB member Lake County Workforce Development Board. Learn how Lake County has created a thriving apprenticeship program and dive into stories from those on the ground.

Sample post:

We’re excited to kick off #NAW2024 by celebrating the success of [Insert name and tag of board, business, etc. ] and their Registered Apprenticeship work. Learn all about it [insert link]! #NAWB

Tuesday, Nov. 19: Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries and Around the Globe

We’re dropping the latest episode of Workforce Central, the official podcast of NAWB, with guest David Polk, director at the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. He and our President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little, discuss Wisconsin’s successful Registered Apprenticeship initiatives.

Sample post:

Check out a deep dive into new and emerging industries with expert insights from David Polk, director at @WIWorkforce. Don’t miss this engaging conversation! https://www.nawb.org/news-and-media/workforce-central-podcast

 

Wednesday. Nov. 20: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations

We encourage you to revisit From WIOA’s Perspective: A Registered Apprenticeship Potpourri, an energetic and interactive webinar led by Maria Remboulis Brady, the US. Department of Labor’s Region IV Multi-State Navigator in the Office of Apprenticeship, on how WIOA and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) are connected, how to utilize braided funding for RA, contracting to support RA, navigating the eligible training provider system, and performance on the Credential Attainment Rate.

Sample post

We’re revisiting a recent #NAWB webinar with @USDOL staff to learn more about expanding registered apprenticeship to underserved populations for #NAW2024.

Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JONZl5Tinpg&t=4s

Thursday. Nov. 21: Women in Apprenticeship

We’re sharing a conversation Jan Bray, senior advisor to NAWB, had with Marie Mackintosh, President and CEO of EmployIndy, about underserved populations and women in Registered Apprenticeships. They discussed the challenges these groups face in accessing apprenticeship opportunities and the importance of creating more inclusive pathways.

Sample post:

Learn about women in apprenticeship! @WorkforceInvest is sharing an interview with @EmployIndy about underserved populations and women in registered apprenticeship. Find it on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@WorkforceBoards

 

Friday, Nov. 22: Federal Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship

We’ll be posting our new blog which examines why veterans are a unique fit for apprenticeship, some challenges they may face, success stories, and a variety of resources related to veteran apprenticeship. Find it on our blog page.

Sample Post:

The final day of #NAW2024 is focused on #VeteranApprenticeship. Check out @WorkforceInvest blog illustrating why veterans are a unique fit for apprenticeship + related opportunities, successes, +resources https://www.nawb.org/news-and-media/nawblog

Workforce Development Month Recap

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Workforce Development Month 2024 was an exciting time for NAWB and our members. Here are some highlights:

Throughout the Month:

We highlighted testimonials from The Forum 2024, facilitated by Equus. Workforce leaders
shared their thoughts on the importance of workforce development and its significance in our economy. Our goal was to spark conversations about workforce boards, the work they do, and the unique ways they serve their communities.

Week Two:

We emphasized advocacy efforts, showcasing the initiatives of NAWB member EmployIndy at local, state, and federal levels. Our new Advocacy Toolkit was reintroduced to empower you in advocating for your workforce development board and the broader system. Additionally, NAWB President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little, engaged in discussions on two podcasts, offering insights about the workforce development landscape and promoting the .

Week Three:

We focused on NAWB’s role in supporting your efforts, featuring inspiring success stories, including the story of Elkanah from Workforce Solutions Dallas, who transitioned from homelessness to gainful employment and stable housing. Be sure to check out our collection of success stories, showcasing our members’ impact on their communities.

Final Week:

In the last week of Workforce Development Month, we turned our attention to partnerships between workforce development boards and local businesses. This was highlighted by a video from the Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, who discussed the importance of vision planning and collaboration in workforce development.

 

Workforce Development Month illuminated the impactful contributions of the workforce development community. We take pride in the advocacy efforts led by our members and the inspiring success stories that reflect the transformative potential of our collective work. We look forward to continuing this momentum and further strengthening our workforce development initiatives together.

Looking for more resources and stories?

Check out our podcast, Workforce Central, where Brad Turner-Little interviews local leaders in workforce development, education, business, and economic development.

Workforce Development Month 2024: EmployIndy’s Site Visit Success

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Celebrating Workforce Development Month and EmployIndy’s Advocacy Efforts

Every September, we celebrate Workforce Development Month to recognize, honor, and publicize the contributions of our nation’s workforce development professionals. Throughout the year, we’ve received countless messages, writeups, and articles about your work and the success of your organizations. We are proud to share these as a testament to the innovative and life-changing work being done by our nation’s workforce development boards.

EmployIndy has done exceptional advocacy work over the past year, from local to state to federal levels. They have been a forerunner in advocacy, using all available tools and leaning on NAWB whenever we can offer assistance. We are thrilled to have such passionate and consistent members advocating on behalf of the workforce system and are proud to have been a supportive partner in these efforts.

“NAWB’s advocacy resources have been especially useful as we’ve engaged with our representation. They’ve been invaluable in quickly finding up-to-date information on federal policies and legislation, identifying areas of impact for our local area, and prioritizing which talking points and narratives to share with our congressional delegation. It has definitely helped hone our messaging!”
— Kevin Duffy, Senior Director, External Affairs, EmployIndy

Here are some of the actions that EmployIndy has taken to advocate for their needs and the broader workforce system:

Local Level

EmployIndy conducted their first Lunch and Learn for Indianapolis City-County Council members in July, offering crucial localized labor market information, sharing updates on city-funded programs, and providing a tour of their comprehensive American Job Center (AJC). They plan to conduct more Lunch and Learns with city council members in the future.

State-Wide

EmployIndy began bipartisan outreach to their local state legislature delegation, hosting two site visits with State Representatives Julie McGuire (R) and Carey Hamilton (D). Both visits were scheduled during Wednesdays at WorkOne, a weekly hiring event that brings over 20 employers and hundreds of jobseekers to the AJC.

In partnership with the Indiana Workforce Board Alliance (INWBA), EmployIndy also participated in INWBA Day at the Statehouse during the legislative session this past spring. This event sparked conversations leading to state legislature site visits. Future endeavors include outreach to the State Senate and House Education Committees for a Lunch and Learn at their AJC.

Federal Level

EmployIndy continues to engage with their congressional delegation to advocate for workforce development priorities, including Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization, Department of Labor (DOL) Apprenticeship rulemaking, and agency appropriations.

They also hosted two separate site visits for congressional staff:

  • Jason Johnson from Senator Mike Braun’s office visited the AJC for a discussion and presentation on the workforce system. Other representatives from INWBA joined the meeting to share perspectives from across the state. This visit not only advocated for the workforce system at the federal level but also set the stage for potential future collaborations at the state level.
  • Andrew Murray from Senator Todd Young’s office toured the AJC to learn about EmployIndy’s services, including highlights from federal investments like the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act and the American Rescue Plan. They also connected Andrew with one of their adult education partners, Warren Township Adult Education, for a concurrent visit and discussion on the role of adult education in workforce development.

Interested in hosting your own site visit? Download Hosting a Congressional Site Visit for tips.