Oct. 16-18 | Chicago, IL
States were invited to assemble teams to convene in Chicago, IL for the Future Workforce Now: State Policy Forum for Action from Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Friday, Oct. 18. We welcomed participants to explore and build on the Future Workforce Now policy framework that has been created and develop policy solutions they can take back to their states. At the Forum, states:
- identified the major challenges posed by technological disruptions for new and incumbent workers in their state;
- assessed existing state policies and practices in place to respond to the technological challenges and their impacts on work, workers and workplaces;
- identified key barriers and actionable policy change to address near-and long-term systems change for workforce development, education, and supportive programs; and
- committed to action steps to prepare and support a diverse and adaptable workforce engaged in lifelong learning leading to meaningful and sustainable employment.
Agenda | Biographies | State Team Discussion Guide
Wednesday, October 16
Introduction: Future Workforce Now Partners & Policy Framework
- Martin Simon, Director, NGA Economic Opportunity
- Sherry Lassiter, President & CEO, The Fab Foundation
- Ivan Charner, Director, National Institute for Work and Learning, FHI 360
- Monika Aring, Senior Policy Advisor, FHI 360
- Rachael Stephens, Program Director, NGA Economic Opportunity
Keynote: Creating Innovators
- Tony Wagner, Senior Research Fellow, Learning Policy Institute and Author: The Global Achievement Gap & Creating Innovators
Governors’ Leadership in Reimagining Workforce Policy in the Age of Disruption
Moderator:
- Zachary Wolf, Senior Writer, CNN
Panelists:
- James Rzepkowski, Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor
- McCall Flynn, Education Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor of Montana
- Alicia Kielmovitch, Chief of Staff of Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, Office of the Governor of Indiana
- Kai Feder, Chief of Staff, New Jersey Office of Innovation
Thursday, October 17
Plenary Session: Building Inclusive Systems and Infrastructure to Support Continuous Lifelong Learning
Moderator:
- Van Ton-Quinlivan, Executive Vice Chancellor Emeritus, California Community Colleges
Panelists:
- Naria Santa Lucia, Senior Director of Digital Skills and Employability, Microsoft Philanthropies
- Scott Cheney, Executive Director, Credential Engine
- Zainab Okolo, Strategy Officer for Competency Based Learning, Lumina Foundation
- Natalie Evans Harris, Co-Founder & Head of Strategic Initiatives, BrightHive
Breakout Sessions: Building Inclusive Systems and Infrastructure to Support Continuous Lifelong Learning
- Creating an Aligned Statewide Vision for Success: Anmol Chaddha, California Future of Work Commission
- Alignment of Data & Information Systems: Ann Kellogg, Maryland Longitudinal Data System &
Jessica Cunningham, KYSTATS - Aligning Credentials Across Systems: Cheryl Rice, Ohio Higher Education Workforce Alignment
- Increasing Integration, Accessibility, and Sustainability of Funding for Continuous Lifelong Learning:
James Martini, Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board
Plenary Session: Developing an Agile, Tech-Ready Workforce that Stays Ahead of the Curve
Moderator:
- Sarah Jane “SJ” Maxted, Deputy Director for MIT’s Task Force on the Work of the Future, MIT
Panelists:
- Erika Webb-Hughes, Director of Public Affairs for the Western United States, Pearson
- Harouna Ba, Director of SciPlay, New York Hall of Science
- Juan Salgado, Chancellor, City of Chicago Community College System & Advisory Board Member, MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future
- Spencer Stewart, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Western Governors University
Breakout Sessions: Developing an Agile, Tech-Ready Workforce that Stays Ahead of the Curve
Friday, October 18
Plenary Session: Supporting Individual Engagement in Lifelong Learning & High-Quality Employment
A panel of experts will discuss ways to ensure that individuals have access to time, information about education and training programs, as well as financing and wrap-around supports they need to succeed in a rapidly changing labor market. The discussion will focus on effective methods that states, community, and business leaders can take to address common barriers for individual workers who are at risk of becoming underskilled.
Moderator:
- Marc Doussard, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Panelists:
- Beth Cobert, CEO, Skillful at the Markle Foundation
- Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation
- Zach Neumann, Senior Project Manager, Lifelong Learning, The Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative
- Michael Monroe, Chief of Staff, North America’s Building Trades Unions
Breakout Sessions: Supporting Individual Engagement in Lifelong Learning & High-Quality Employment
- Connecting Learners with Labor Market Information: William D. Turner, Skillful Indiana
- Alignment of Federal, State & External Funding: Jacob Maas, West Michigan Works! and Orrin Bailey, Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Michigan Works!
- Wraparound Services for an Evolving Workforce: Kathleen O’Leary, Seattle Jobs Initiative
- Employer-Sponsored Services & Collaboratives: Liz Gamache and Connie Beal, Working Bridges at the United Way of Northwestern Vermont
