E81: Upskill America- An Employer-Led Movement To Expand Opportunity for America’s Workers

Jamie Fall, Director of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute, joins the program to discuss the importance of employers investing in their employees, and the benefits of those investments for both employees and employers. He reveals some of the workforce and economic trends that have motivated employers to take the lead when it comes to investing in their employees, as well as the increasing range of investments being made by employers.

Jay Lucas, CEO and Chairman of the Lucas Group, joins the program to discuss the Newport Sunshine Initiative and the work that is being done to build a stronger economic base and enhance opportunity in Newport, He also discusses some of the particular challenges and opportunities facing small towns in the U.S. and lessons learned from his experiences so far. To learn more, visit https://www.jaylucas.us/ and to get Jay’s book, visit https://www.amazon.com/American-Sunshine-Rays-Hope-Opportunity-ebook/dp/B07BZYPKC7

Today’s episode features an interview with the winners of the 2019 Laurie Moran Partnership Award. The award is given jointly to a workforce development board and chamber of commerce that have formed a significant partnership to advance the workforce and economic development of their local region. The Partnership Award is named in honor of Laurie Moran, who served on the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board from 2001 to 2016 and was President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce from 2002 until her passing. She was a member of the Board of the National Association of Workforce Boards from 2004 to 2015, serving as chair from 2011 to 2013. The featured guests and winners are Ashley Cagle, Assistant Executive Director, Wake County Economic Development, Vice President, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Kimberly Wheeler, Director Business Engagement for the Capital Area Workforce Development. Discover how the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce/Wake County Economic Development Program forged an effective partnership with Capital Area WDB, Wake Technical Community College and NC State University to recruit HCL Technologies, a dynamic information technology global enterprise headquartered in India, to demonstrate the existence of a highly capable skilled workforce, and enable HCL Technologies to grow and flourish in the Research Triangle regional market

This episode features an interview with Robyn Safron, Senior Human Resources Manager of HydraForce. HydraForce was recognized by the National Association of Workforce Boards as the recipient of the 2019 W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award. Robyn reveals how HydraForce partnered with their local workforce board to meet their immediate and long-term talent needs, and shares advice for other companies looking to do the same.

The West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board was presented with the 2019 WIOA Trailblazer Award in a ceremony at the NAWB Forum in Washington D.C. The award, which is an initiative of the NAWB, recognizes innovation and leadership in developing and delivering workforce solutions in the community. In this episode, Jacob Maas, CEO of West Michigan Works! joins the program to discuss some of innovative practices happening in his region, the importance of developing partnerships, and shares advice and tips for success.

Tamar Jacoby, President of Opportunity America, and Anne Kim, Vice President of Domestic Policy at The Progressive Policy Institute, join the program to discuss the report Work, Skills, Community: Restoring Opportunity for the Working Class – a slate of bipartisan proposals to create jobs, train and retrain workers and revitalize blue-collar communities.

Russell Krumnow, Director of Economic Mobility and Poverty Project at Convergence and Lisa Schumacher. Director of Education Strategies at McDonald’s Corporation join the program to discuss how to close the education gap for low-wage workers. Discover how Convergence is creating dialogues between stakeholders with differing views, and how they are coming together to break down barriers for workers.

To read the “Working Up” report visit http://workingup.convergencepolicy.org/

Oren Cass, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and author of “The Once and Future Worker- A Vision of Work in America” joins the program to discuss trends for the future of work, the impact that technology will have on workers, and the cultural importance of work. Oren reveals his thoughts about how we can rethink our assumptions about work and education, and how to ensure that every American has an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society.

To order Oren’s book, visit https://www.amazon.com/Once-Future-Worker-Renewal-America/dp/1641770147/