you know the nation and our region are really grappling with the future of our
really grappling with the future of our
really grappling with the future of our young people we know from opportunity
young people we know from opportunity
young people we know from opportunity nation that there are five and point
nation that there are five and point
nation that there are five and point five million people 16 to 24 years old
five million people 16 to 24 years old
five million people 16 to 24 years old who are not in school and they’re not
who are not in school and they’re not
who are not in school and they’re not working which represents one in seven we
working which represents one in seven we
working which represents one in seven we know from the broader job market that
know from the broader job market that
know from the broader job market that there are six million available jobs and
there are six million available jobs and
there are six million available jobs and eight million unemployed people and a
eight million unemployed people and a
eight million unemployed people and a clear misalignment between the skills
clear misalignment between the skills
clear misalignment between the skills that are needed and the skills that are
that are needed and the skills that are
that are needed and the skills that are present we know that in our region
present we know that in our region
present we know that in our region poverty language and skill barriers
poverty language and skill barriers
poverty language and skill barriers exacerbate all of this and they’re
exacerbate all of this and they’re
exacerbate all of this and they’re working against us to create huge
working against us to create huge
working against us to create huge awareness gaps and and really propelling
awareness gaps and and really propelling
awareness gaps and and really propelling this negative narrative that suppresses
this negative narrative that suppresses
this negative narrative that suppresses hope but y’all it need not be that way
hope but y’all it need not be that way
hope but y’all it need not be that way that need not be our story in fact it
that need not be our story in fact it
that need not be our story in fact it doesn’t take a lot of change to make a
doesn’t take a lot of change to make a
doesn’t take a lot of change to make a lot of change here but you see the map
lot of change here but you see the map
lot of change here but you see the map the path forward for us as a region is
the path forward for us as a region is
the path forward for us as a region is pathways a path to where all of the
pathways a path to where all of the
pathways a path to where all of the assets we already have are directed
assets we already have are directed
assets we already have are directed toward the shared vision of what we want
toward the shared vision of what we want
toward the shared vision of what we want to become so we can have the future we
to become so we can have the future we
to become so we can have the future we all want and then what we do is we
all want and then what we do is we
all want and then what we do is we create pathways for these greatest
create pathways for these greatest
create pathways for these greatest resources and put them in the position
resources and put them in the position
resources and put them in the position of being our future builders we know
of being our future builders we know
of being our future builders we know that we can make neo moving change here
that we can make neo moving change here
that we can make neo moving change here but you know we’ve done it before we’ve
but you know we’ve done it before we’ve
but you know we’ve done it before we’ve seen the needle move let me remind you
seen the needle move let me remind you
seen the needle move let me remind you in 2007 the business community of Dona
in 2007 the business community of Dona
in 2007 the business community of Dona Ana County New Mexico was recognizing
Ana County New Mexico was recognizing
Ana County New Mexico was recognizing the crisis being created by the fact
the crisis being created by the fact
the crisis being created by the fact that half of our high school students
that half of our high school students
that half of our high school students were not finishing now not only did that
were not finishing now not only did that
were not finishing now not only did that you know kind of inhibit our business
you know kind of inhibit our business
you know kind of inhibit our business leaders in their own ability to grow
leaders in their own ability to grow
leaders in their own ability to grow their businesses it was suppressing
their businesses it was suppressing
their businesses it was suppressing economic development it was creating
economic development it was creating
economic development it was creating barriers to drawing new businesses and
barriers to drawing new businesses and
barriers to drawing new businesses and new jobs here but far more importantly
new jobs here but far more importantly
new jobs here but far more importantly it was severely limiting the
it was severely limiting the
it was severely limiting the opportunities that would ever be
opportunities that would ever be
opportunities that would ever be available to these young people who did
available to these young people who did
available to these young people who did not understand they were making a
not understand they were making a
not understand they were making a devastating decision so early in their
devastating decision so early in their
devastating decision so early in their lives well the business community went
lives well the business community went
lives well the business community went to the educational leaders not pointing
to the educational leaders not pointing
to the educational leaders not pointing their fingers
their fingers
their fingers saying how can we help and it began a
saying how can we help and it began a
saying how can we help and it began a community conversation about the
community conversation about the
community conversation about the importance of high school graduation it
importance of high school graduation it
importance of high school graduation it led to the identification of an
led to the identification of an
led to the identification of an intervention that could work for our
intervention that could work for our
intervention that could work for our students New Mexico’s first Early
students New Mexico’s first Early
students New Mexico’s first Early College High School but more importantly
College High School but more importantly
College High School but more importantly it elevated the importance of high
it elevated the importance of high
it elevated the importance of high school graduation across the region
school graduation across the region
school graduation across the region today that conversation between business
today that conversation between business
today that conversation between business education economic development and
education economic development and
education economic development and government leaders continues and what’s
government leaders continues and what’s
government leaders continues and what’s awesome is we’re celebrating the fact
awesome is we’re celebrating the fact
awesome is we’re celebrating the fact that four out of five of our students
that four out of five of our students
that four out of five of our students are now graduating high school
are now graduating high school
are now graduating high school that’s needle moving change we’ve done
that’s needle moving change we’ve done
that’s needle moving change we’ve done it before
it before
it before so now that we’ve got them across that
so now that we’ve got them across that
so now that we’ve got them across that first academic finish line how do we
first academic finish line how do we
first academic finish line how do we propel them across at least one more how
propel them across at least one more how
propel them across at least one more how do we get them truly career ready for
do we get them truly career ready for
do we get them truly career ready for the jobs and industries that are here
the jobs and industries that are here
the jobs and industries that are here now that would provide for them
now that would provide for them
now that would provide for them employment advancement and high wages
employment advancement and high wages
employment advancement and high wages but simultaneously drive up the economic
but simultaneously drive up the economic
but simultaneously drive up the economic growth of our region well we do what we
growth of our region well we do what we
growth of our region well we do what we did before we find a better pathway and
did before we find a better pathway and
did before we find a better pathway and we need to understand that our young
we need to understand that our young
we need to understand that our young people are caught in the Nexus of change
people are caught in the Nexus of change
people are caught in the Nexus of change in our country right now they are
in our country right now they are
in our country right now they are bearing the burden of this misalignment
bearing the burden of this misalignment
bearing the burden of this misalignment between education and workforce
between education and workforce
between education and workforce preparedness that has perpetuated the
preparedness that has perpetuated the
preparedness that has perpetuated the much-discussed soft skills gap we know
much-discussed soft skills gap we know
much-discussed soft skills gap we know that the college and career-ready mantra
that the college and career-ready mantra
that the college and career-ready mantra has created professional students rather
has created professional students rather
has created professional students rather than professionals we know that the
than professionals we know that the
than professionals we know that the higher cost of higher ed is kind of not
higher cost of higher ed is kind of not
higher cost of higher ed is kind of not able to guarantee the high wages that it
able to guarantee the high wages that it
able to guarantee the high wages that it once was and the rising minimum wage is
once was and the rising minimum wage is
once was and the rising minimum wage is having a correspondingly negative impact
having a correspondingly negative impact
having a correspondingly negative impact on youth employment so what do we do how
on youth employment so what do we do how
on youth employment so what do we do how do we help them and how do we get out of
do we help them and how do we get out of
do we help them and how do we get out of their way well everyone has a role to
their way well everyone has a role to
their way well everyone has a role to play in building the workforce we need
play in building the workforce we need
play in building the workforce we need and we need to understand and rally
and we need to understand and rally
and we need to understand and rally ourselves around four key connections we
ourselves around four key connections we
ourselves around four key connections we know that education is the key to
know that education is the key to
know that education is the key to producing talent talent is the key to
producing talent talent is the key to
producing talent talent is the key to attracting jobs jobs are the key to
attracting jobs jobs are the key to
attracting jobs jobs are the key to economic development but economic
economic development but economic
economic development but economic development at its core will drive
development at its core will drive
development at its core will drive regional prosperity and we are very
regional prosperity and we are very
regional prosperity and we are very aspirin
aspirin
aspirin as a region we have somewhere between
as a region we have somewhere between
as a region we have somewhere between seven and thirteen economic development
seven and thirteen economic development
seven and thirteen economic development plans that give a picture of what we
plans that give a picture of what we
plans that give a picture of what we want to be when we grow up far too many
want to be when we grow up far too many
want to be when we grow up far too many of our neighbors don’t know that and
of our neighbors don’t know that and
of our neighbors don’t know that and don’t know what opportunities are
don’t know what opportunities are
don’t know what opportunities are available to them and across all these
available to them and across all these
available to them and across all these plans a single a single factor must be
plans a single a single factor must be
plans a single a single factor must be present it is a single factor upon which
present it is a single factor upon which
present it is a single factor upon which success or failure rides the presence of
success or failure rides the presence of
success or failure rides the presence of the skilled and Rohde workforce we
the skilled and Rohde workforce we
the skilled and Rohde workforce we simply hadn’t taken taken the time to
simply hadn’t taken taken the time to
simply hadn’t taken taken the time to build the pathway to get that until now
build the pathway to get that until now
build the pathway to get that until now so now that we have understood a little
so now that we have understood a little
so now that we have understood a little bit more of what we’re up against we
bit more of what we’re up against we
bit more of what we’re up against we convened a broad conversation we
convened a broad conversation we
convened a broad conversation we gathered a group together that we call
gathered a group together that we call
gathered a group together that we call the workforce talent collaborative
the workforce talent collaborative
the workforce talent collaborative they’re people with the resources and
they’re people with the resources and
they’re people with the resources and the programs that are already engaged in
the programs that are already engaged in
the programs that are already engaged in the work force development continuum we
the work force development continuum we
the work force development continuum we rallied around them what we call a
rallied around them what we call a
rallied around them what we call a community of progress people who work
community of progress people who work
community of progress people who work with those who face barriers to
with those who face barriers to
with those who face barriers to employment to help us be holistic in our
employment to help us be holistic in our
employment to help us be holistic in our solutions and we began a conversation
solutions and we began a conversation
solutions and we began a conversation and what we’ve come to understand is we
and what we’ve come to understand is we
and what we’ve come to understand is we must harness these assets and point them
must harness these assets and point them
must harness these assets and point them in the same direction we need good
in the same direction we need good
in the same direction we need good policy policy is sustainability we need
policy policy is sustainability we need
policy policy is sustainability we need to prioritize investment in things like
to prioritize investment in things like
to prioritize investment in things like dual credit Career and Technical
dual credit Career and Technical
dual credit Career and Technical Education pathways for our young people
Education pathways for our young people
Education pathways for our young people but we also need to target better the
but we also need to target better the
but we also need to target better the federal and state investments that we
federal and state investments that we
federal and state investments that we already have we know that the business
already have we know that the business
already have we know that the business community must lead the business
community must lead the business
community must lead the business community has such a critical role to
community has such a critical role to
community has such a critical role to play in deeply more meaningfully
play in deeply more meaningfully
play in deeply more meaningfully engaging with teachers with schools with
engaging with teachers with schools with
engaging with teachers with schools with young people’s and what we talk about is
young people’s and what we talk about is
young people’s and what we talk about is five shifts that’s where you change
five shifts that’s where you change
five shifts that’s where you change curriculum mentorship internship
curriculum mentorship internship
curriculum mentorship internship apprenticeship and externships for
apprenticeship and externships for
apprenticeship and externships for teachers what’s the impact of a teacher
teachers what’s the impact of a teacher
teachers what’s the impact of a teacher spending two weeks in a business
spending two weeks in a business
spending two weeks in a business environment and learning what’s real and
environment and learning what’s real and
environment and learning what’s real and relevant and taking that back to her
relevant and taking that back to her
relevant and taking that back to her class where she will over the next year
class where she will over the next year
class where she will over the next year reach 150 to 200 kids business has such
reach 150 to 200 kids business has such
reach 150 to 200 kids business has such an important role to play we must be
an important role to play we must be
an important role to play we must be stem proficient as a community and as a
stem proficient as a community and as a
stem proficient as a community and as a region science technology engineering
region science technology engineering
region science technology engineering and math there
and math there
and math there all vital to the 21st century industries
all vital to the 21st century industries
all vital to the 21st century industries if you want to throw the a in there for
if you want to throw the a in there for
if you want to throw the a in there for arts that’s fine communication is a
arts that’s fine communication is a
arts that’s fine communication is a critical skill that’s needed and for us
critical skill that’s needed and for us
critical skill that’s needed and for us we sure better put in the H for health
we sure better put in the H for health
we sure better put in the H for health because our healthcare industry is our
because our healthcare industry is our
because our healthcare industry is our largest fastest growing best pain so we
largest fastest growing best pain so we
largest fastest growing best pain so we need to be proficient in all of those
need to be proficient in all of those
need to be proficient in all of those things and then you’ve got four levers
things and then you’ve got four levers
things and then you’ve got four levers of change you must mobilize you’ve got
of change you must mobilize you’ve got
of change you must mobilize you’ve got to propel kids past that high school
to propel kids past that high school
to propel kids past that high school finish line but then cross at least one
finish line but then cross at least one
finish line but then cross at least one more and what we’ve done is we’ve said a
more and what we’ve done is we’ve said a
more and what we’ve done is we’ve said a four-year college degree was the only
four-year college degree was the only
four-year college degree was the only acceptable one but we’ve only told part
acceptable one but we’ve only told part
acceptable one but we’ve only told part of the story
of the story
of the story career certifications and associate’s
career certifications and associate’s
career certifications and associate’s degrees can out earn many four-year
degrees can out earn many four-year
degrees can out earn many four-year degrees but we’ve not told that story we
degrees but we’ve not told that story we
degrees but we’ve not told that story we have we have things like dual credit
have we have things like dual credit
have we have things like dual credit like the early college high school model
like the early college high school model
like the early college high school model and Career and Technical Education that
and Career and Technical Education that
and Career and Technical Education that help a young person in high school while
help a young person in high school while
help a young person in high school while they’re still there go into their
they’re still there go into their
they’re still there go into their college career you can finish some
college career you can finish some
college career you can finish some things career certifications you can
things career certifications you can
things career certifications you can finish an associate’s degree in an Early
finish an associate’s degree in an Early
finish an associate’s degree in an Early College High School so use the tools we
College High School so use the tools we
College High School so use the tools we have to propel them toward a completion
have to propel them toward a completion
have to propel them toward a completion line and it doesn’t have to be only one
line and it doesn’t have to be only one
line and it doesn’t have to be only one write success happens at many levels
write success happens at many levels
write success happens at many levels career certifications associate’s
career certifications associate’s
career certifications associate’s degrees bachelor’s and higher they’re
degrees bachelor’s and higher they’re
degrees bachelor’s and higher they’re all definitions of success but we just
all definitions of success but we just
all definitions of success but we just need to tell a better story well the
need to tell a better story well the
need to tell a better story well the other piece that you really need address
other piece that you really need address
other piece that you really need address is the opportunity youth these 16 to 24
is the opportunity youth these 16 to 24
is the opportunity youth these 16 to 24 year olds for whom life has gotten in
year olds for whom life has gotten in
year olds for whom life has gotten in the way how do we prioritize our federal
the way how do we prioritize our federal
the way how do we prioritize our federal and state investments to help them well
and state investments to help them well
and state investments to help them well once you’ve done all this you’ve got a
once you’ve done all this you’ve got a
once you’ve done all this you’ve got a comprehensive approach to Workforce
comprehensive approach to Workforce
comprehensive approach to Workforce Development but you get a bonus you
Development but you get a bonus you
Development but you get a bonus you change culture we become a culture of
change culture we become a culture of
change culture we become a culture of completion a culture of high
completion a culture of high
completion a culture of high expectations a culture of lifelong
expectations a culture of lifelong
expectations a culture of lifelong learning and we change the narrative
learning and we change the narrative
learning and we change the narrative about what it means to grow up here it
about what it means to grow up here it
about what it means to grow up here it becomes a great place to grow up well
becomes a great place to grow up well
becomes a great place to grow up well with the workforce talent collaborative
with the workforce talent collaborative
with the workforce talent collaborative in the community of promise we convened
in the community of promise we convened
in the community of promise we convened a set of industries that appeared across
a set of industries that appeared across
a set of industries that appeared across all these plans and they were industries
all these plans and they were industries
all these plans and they were industries that were here now with good wages
that were here now with good wages
that were here now with good wages potential for growth and their their
potential for growth and their their
potential for growth and their their health care defense
health care defense
health care defense agriculture but we mean value-added
agriculture but we mean value-added
agriculture but we mean value-added agriculture digital media advanced
agriculture digital media advanced
agriculture digital media advanced manufacturing transportation and
manufacturing transportation and
manufacturing transportation and logistics energy and aerospace and what
logistics energy and aerospace and what
logistics energy and aerospace and what we did then for each of these industry
we did then for each of these industry
we did then for each of these industry targets we built a corresponding
targets we built a corresponding
targets we built a corresponding workforce development pathway to get
workforce development pathway to get
workforce development pathway to get there let me just this is just one and
there let me just this is just one and
there let me just this is just one and we combine two aerospace and defense
we combine two aerospace and defense
we combine two aerospace and defense because the characteristics and the kind
because the characteristics and the kind
because the characteristics and the kind of what the qualities you need the
of what the qualities you need the
of what the qualities you need the skills you need are very similar it
skills you need are very similar it
skills you need are very similar it start at the bottom if you look across
start at the bottom if you look across
start at the bottom if you look across the bottom that’s a career progression
the bottom that’s a career progression
the bottom that’s a career progression in these industries the traits of the
in these industries the traits of the
in these industries the traits of the technicians that’s the the ground floor
technicians that’s the the ground floor
technicians that’s the the ground floor but what’s really interesting is for us
but what’s really interesting is for us
but what’s really interesting is for us in our County thirty six thousand
in our County thirty six thousand
in our County thirty six thousand dollars is the median income so you’ll
dollars is the median income so you’ll
dollars is the median income so you’ll never be in working poverty in this
never be in working poverty in this
never be in working poverty in this industry right and neither one of these
industry right and neither one of these
industry right and neither one of these so you start with the trades and
so you start with the trades and
so you start with the trades and technicians then you go to the higher
technicians then you go to the higher
technicians then you go to the higher skilled a little better paying
skilled a little better paying
skilled a little better paying engineering techs of course you’ve got
engineering techs of course you’ve got
engineering techs of course you’ve got your physician your physicist or chemist
your physician your physicist or chemist
your physician your physicist or chemist your four-year engineers and higher but
your four-year engineers and higher but
your four-year engineers and higher but then you want to give birth to
then you want to give birth to
then you want to give birth to entrepreneurs people who will start
entrepreneurs people who will start
entrepreneurs people who will start businesses here grow businesses here and
businesses here grow businesses here and
businesses here grow businesses here and hire here well we have the academic
hire here well we have the academic
hire here well we have the academic assets we need across the top we have
assets we need across the top we have
assets we need across the top we have Career and Technical Education pathways
Career and Technical Education pathways
Career and Technical Education pathways and STEM fields we have a stem focused
and STEM fields we have a stem focused
and STEM fields we have a stem focused Early College High School and then we
Early College High School and then we
Early College High School and then we also have relationships with community
also have relationships with community
also have relationships with community colleges that allow students to get
colleges that allow students to get
colleges that allow students to get propelled while they’re in high school
propelled while they’re in high school
propelled while they’re in high school into their college career we just need
into their college career we just need
into their college career we just need to better use the community colleges
to better use the community colleges
to better use the community colleges they’re not a second choice they’re
they’re not a second choice they’re
they’re not a second choice they’re they’re another great choice career
they’re another great choice career
they’re another great choice career certifications and licensures
certifications and licensures
certifications and licensures associate’s degrees when you talk about
associate’s degrees when you talk about
associate’s degrees when you talk about the middle skills gap that’s where you
the middle skills gap that’s where you
the middle skills gap that’s where you go fill it we have the universities and
go fill it we have the universities and
go fill it we have the universities and we have universities that have
we have universities that have
we have universities that have relationships with the community
relationships with the community
relationships with the community colleges and what we need to do is have
colleges and what we need to do is have
colleges and what we need to do is have more of the 2+2 type programs where I
more of the 2+2 type programs where I
more of the 2+2 type programs where I complete an academic finish line but I’m
complete an academic finish line but I’m
complete an academic finish line but I’m so much closer to completing the next
so much closer to completing the next
so much closer to completing the next and then the other thing is we’re
and then the other thing is we’re
and then the other thing is we’re starting to get smart we have a lot of
starting to get smart we have a lot of
starting to get smart we have a lot of people in these industries here now how
people in these industries here now how
people in these industries here now how do we leverage the university assets to
do we leverage the university assets to
do we leverage the university assets to keep our own workforce on the cutting
keep our own workforce on the cutting
keep our own workforce on the cutting edge in aerospace and defense well we’re
edge in aerospace and defense well we’re
edge in aerospace and defense well we’re starting to do that and
starting to do that and
starting to do that and is the non-traditional pathway this is
is the non-traditional pathway this is
is the non-traditional pathway this is the part where you mobilize your federal
the part where you mobilize your federal
the part where you mobilize your federal and state investments to help young
and state investments to help young
and state investments to help young people get beach the education that they
people get beach the education that they
people get beach the education that they need and putting them in the position
need and putting them in the position
need and putting them in the position about earning their benefits because
about earning their benefits because
about earning their benefits because they’ve entered the workforce pipeline
they’ve entered the workforce pipeline
they’ve entered the workforce pipeline get them there quickly and efficiently
get them there quickly and efficiently
get them there quickly and efficiently and then they can go however far they
and then they can go however far they
and then they can go however far they want but they’re in at a great starting
want but they’re in at a great starting
want but they’re in at a great starting point the part we’ve kind of done but
point the part we’ve kind of done but
point the part we’ve kind of done but we’ve not really done it systemically
we’ve not really done it systemically
we’ve not really done it systemically and well if it is the work based
and well if it is the work based
and well if it is the work based learning piece that’s where externships
learning piece that’s where externships
learning piece that’s where externships for teachers are so important what is
for teachers are so important what is
for teachers are so important what is the value of a teacher and a business
the value of a teacher and a business
the value of a teacher and a business professional Co designing a work based
professional Co designing a work based
professional Co designing a work based learning opportunity for students in the
learning opportunity for students in the
learning opportunity for students in the classroom that’s how you close the soft
classroom that’s how you close the soft
classroom that’s how you close the soft skills gap so externships for teachers
skills gap so externships for teachers
skills gap so externships for teachers internships and at the high school level
internships and at the high school level
internships and at the high school level you can pay them or not because in many
you can pay them or not because in many
you can pay them or not because in many cases there are internship programs that
cases there are internship programs that
cases there are internship programs that provide credit but for sure at the
provide credit but for sure at the
provide credit but for sure at the college level with internships coops and
college level with internships coops and
college level with internships coops and apprenticeships they need to be paid why
apprenticeships they need to be paid why
apprenticeships they need to be paid why because what we know is the majority of
because what we know is the majority of
because what we know is the majority of high of college students are working
high of college students are working
high of college students are working also so why not put them in a position
also so why not put them in a position
also so why not put them in a position to learn and earn together and by the
to learn and earn together and by the
to learn and earn together and by the way the employers is kind of prospecting
way the employers is kind of prospecting
way the employers is kind of prospecting his future workforce his or her future
his future workforce his or her future
his future workforce his or her future workforce so it’s a terrific model and
workforce so it’s a terrific model and
workforce so it’s a terrific model and opportunity and then you’ve got a rally
opportunity and then you’ve got a rally
opportunity and then you’ve got a rally the resources you have around this
the resources you have around this
the resources you have around this budding set of potential entrepreneurs
budding set of potential entrepreneurs
budding set of potential entrepreneurs and you leverage the assets you have to
and you leverage the assets you have to
and you leverage the assets you have to support that innovation and the business
support that innovation and the business
support that innovation and the business development well the great thing about
development well the great thing about
development well the great thing about this is so this tells all of us in the
this is so this tells all of us in the
this is so this tells all of us in the in the continuum what our job is but
in the continuum what our job is but
in the continuum what our job is but this very simple graphic conveys a very
this very simple graphic conveys a very
this very simple graphic conveys a very simple message it is the Mac for our
simple message it is the Mac for our
simple message it is the Mac for our young people who now know how far in my
young people who now know how far in my
young people who now know how far in my academic career do I need to go to
academic career do I need to go to
academic career do I need to go to become that to earn that and so and what
become that to earn that and so and what
become that to earn that and so and what and what resources are available to me
and what resources are available to me
and what resources are available to me and how important is this work based
and how important is this work based
and how important is this work based learning thing so this becomes the map
learning thing so this becomes the map
learning thing so this becomes the map for them so that they can find their way
for them so that they can find their way
for them so that they can find their way we know that for us this is an argent
we know that for us this is an argent
we know that for us this is an argent mater poverty in our region is
mater poverty in our region is
mater poverty in our region is significant in Dona Ana County for us
significant in Dona Ana County for us
significant in Dona Ana County for us our general population our poverty rates
our general population our poverty rates
our general population our poverty rates are higher than the state
are higher than the state
are higher than the state nation but the younger you look the
nation but the younger you look the
nation but the younger you look the worse it’s getting and with what we know
worse it’s getting and with what we know
worse it’s getting and with what we know about the generational poverty issue
about the generational poverty issue
about the generational poverty issue children who grow up in poverty are more
children who grow up in poverty are more
children who grow up in poverty are more likely to stay there we have to break
likely to stay there we have to break
likely to stay there we have to break the cycle of poverty now the beauty of
the cycle of poverty now the beauty of
the cycle of poverty now the beauty of the pathways is that they also show the
the pathways is that they also show the
the pathways is that they also show the unemployed the underemployed in the
unemployed the underemployed in the
unemployed the underemployed in the low-skilled workers what they need to do
low-skilled workers what they need to do
low-skilled workers what they need to do – and how close change is for them so
– and how close change is for them so
– and how close change is for them so just this last week one of the leading
just this last week one of the leading
just this last week one of the leading economists in our region was talking
economists in our region was talking
economists in our region was talking about how do you get fast economic
about how do you get fast economic
about how do you get fast economic development well you know what you do
development well you know what you do
development well you know what you do you don’t diversify your economy you
you don’t diversify your economy you
you don’t diversify your economy you concentrate it on fast-growing high wage
concentrate it on fast-growing high wage
concentrate it on fast-growing high wage industries that’s what we’re doing
industries that’s what we’re doing
industries that’s what we’re doing that’s exactly what we’re doing so so
that’s exactly what we’re doing so so
that’s exactly what we’re doing so so for us we know that pathways are the
for us we know that pathways are the
for us we know that pathways are the path forward for us as a region when we
path forward for us as a region when we
path forward for us as a region when we know that we’ll get there we know that
know that we’ll get there we know that
know that we’ll get there we know that we’ll get there when the business
we’ll get there when the business
we’ll get there when the business community takes its lead in engaging
community takes its lead in engaging
community takes its lead in engaging with with young people in engaging in
with with young people in engaging in
with with young people in engaging in classrooms engaging in the Workforce
classrooms engaging in the Workforce
classrooms engaging in the Workforce Development continuing through the five
Development continuing through the five
Development continuing through the five shifts the bonuses we close the soft
shifts the bonuses we close the soft
shifts the bonuses we close the soft skills gap we know that we’ll get there
skills gap we know that we’ll get there
skills gap we know that we’ll get there when the institutions and the agencies
when the institutions and the agencies
when the institutions and the agencies that serve our young people are aligned
that serve our young people are aligned
that serve our young people are aligned and coordinated taking down the barriers
and coordinated taking down the barriers
and coordinated taking down the barriers that stand in their way and putting them
that stand in their way and putting them
that stand in their way and putting them in a pathway that propels them towards
in a pathway that propels them towards
in a pathway that propels them towards success and we get a better return on
success and we get a better return on
success and we get a better return on our investment by the way we know that
our investment by the way we know that
our investment by the way we know that we’ll get there when students and
we’ll get there when students and
we’ll get there when students and parents understand education is not a
parents understand education is not a
parents understand education is not a destination it’s part of the journey
destination it’s part of the journey
destination it’s part of the journey they are then put in the position of
they are then put in the position of
they are then put in the position of being able to make better decisions
being able to make better decisions
being able to make better decisions about the education that is truly needed
about the education that is truly needed
about the education that is truly needed to become whatever you want to become in
to become whatever you want to become in
to become whatever you want to become in a career and they can make those
a career and they can make those
a career and they can make those decisions more efficiently effectively
decisions more efficiently effectively
decisions more efficiently effectively and less student debt
and less student debt
and less student debt students like jalisa and Jocelyn two
students like jalisa and Jocelyn two
students like jalisa and Jocelyn two kids that graduated from early college
kids that graduated from early college
kids that graduated from early college both first-generation college attenders
both first-generation college attenders
both first-generation college attenders well Jocelyn’s on her way to becoming a
well Jocelyn’s on her way to becoming a
well Jocelyn’s on her way to becoming a doctor so she took her associate’s
doctor so she took her associate’s
doctor so she took her associate’s degree that she got right out of high
degree that she got right out of high
degree that she got right out of high school and she’s two years closer to the
school and she’s two years closer to the
school and she’s two years closer to the finish line for jalisa high school was
finish line for jalisa high school was
finish line for jalisa high school was the finish line but she also left with a
the finish line but she also left with a
the finish line but she also left with a college completion and she’s now working
college completion and she’s now working
college completion and she’s now working in a hospital making good wages and
in a hospital making good wages and
in a hospital making good wages and getting terrific benefits so you see it
getting terrific benefits so you see it
getting terrific benefits so you see it doesn’t take a lot of change to make a
doesn’t take a lot of change to make a
doesn’t take a lot of change to make a lot of change here we just have to build
lot of change here we just have to build
lot of change here we just have to build the pathways that allow our young people
the pathways that allow our young people
the pathways that allow our young people to know just how close they are how easy
to know just how close they are how easy
to know just how close they are how easy changes to achieve and they will
changes to achieve and they will
changes to achieve and they will literally build our future and then when
literally build our future and then when
literally build our future and then when they are doing that when they have
they are doing that when they have
they are doing that when they have figured it out and we have rallied
figured it out and we have rallied
figured it out and we have rallied around them we are putting ourselves in
around them we are putting ourselves in
around them we are putting ourselves in the position of showing other
the position of showing other
the position of showing other communities like us how they can do it
communities like us how they can do it
communities like us how they can do it too
too
too thank you all so much
thank you all so much
thank you all so much [Applause]
”
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