We all have a stake in making our communities more competitive. Closing the skills gap and driving economic growth starts at the grassroots level. Tune into the Ready for Work podcast for a discussion about strengthening the workforce ecosystem. Make ACT Ready for Work your go-to source for ideas to revolutionize your workforce. Provided by the experts. Curated by ACT. Learn more at act.org/readyforworkpodcast
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ACT celebrates Workforce Development Month with a powerful keynote from LaShana Lewis —technologist, advocate, and Chair of Opportunity@Work’s Stars Advisory Council. Recorded live at ACT’s Atlanta Summit, LaShana shares her personal journey and the systemic barriers faced by STARs—those Skilled Through Alternative Routes. Her story highlights the urgent need for inclusive, skills-based hiring and…
Episode 61 features Isaac Agbeshie-Noye from the SHRM Foundation, who discusses the Skills First Future initiative and its role in helping employers adopt skills-drivenpractices and expand nationwide opportunities through Learning and Employment Records (LERs). The conversation explores common myths surrounding skills-firsthiring, the challenges employers encounter, and strategies to overcome…
From the stage of ACT’s Workforce Summit in Atlanta, episode 60 brings humor, insight, and real-world wisdom on AI’s role in workforce development. Host Jasen Jones is joined by tech experts DJ Burrel, Joshua Cox and Davin Jackson to explore how AI is transforming cybersecurity, government, and education. From ethical hacking to gaming as a gateway to tech careers, the panel breaks down complex…
How early should we begin career development in a child’s life? It’s earlier than you might think. Heidi shares how Strive-Together is helping communities nationwide align around seven key educational milestones—from kindergarten readiness to career entry. Discover how data becomes a flashlight, not a hammer, and why systems thinking, equity, and authentic collaboration are essential for…
What does it take to transform education and workforce systems in a way that truly reflects local needs? In this episode, we explore the Talent Hub designation—a model-agnostic standard recognizing excellence in cross-sector partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels. Born from Lumina Foundation’s work with 75 pioneering partnerships, Talent Hubs represent a new way of thinking about…
The disconnect between skilled workers and employers is wider than ever, with access to affordable housing and childcare now among the top challenges preventing new commercial investment and job creation. Collaborative workforce ecosystems, like those in Work Ready Communities, are uniquely equipped to tackle these issues, according to Chad Chancellor of the Next Move Group. Chad examines two…
Celebrated on the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day is a national movement showcasing modern manufacturing careers. Throughout October, companies and educational institutions open their doors to students, parents, educators, and community leaders. Neil Reddy brought the celebration to the 2024 ACT Workforce Summit. From the stage in Atlanta, Neil shares inspiration for future generations…
With the increasing demand for skills governing workplace behaviors, ACT’s new WorkKeys Essential Skills assessment is designed to measure and develop these crucial competencies for the future. In episode 55, Dr. Alex Casillas delves into the vital importance of essential skills in both education and the workforce. Join us for a deeper exploration of how essential skills can boost job performance,…
With a panel of Work Ready Community champions, episode 54 explores innovative strategies and real-world examples of how partnerships between industries, educational institutions, and government agencies are reshaping workforce development. Accelerating Talent Development via Cross Sector Collaboration features panelists from Nebraska, Ohio, and Mississippi in the August 2024 edition of WRC-Live!…
Finding your Workforce – Latino Talent for a Global Economy highlights best practices to leverage the high labor force participation rate of Latinos, projected to be one in five workers by 2031. Deborah Santiago with Excelencia in Education discusses the importance of developing stackable credentials, providing transition services, and connecting Latino talent to employers. Get ready to uncover…
