Previous Webinars

As of July 2023, webinar recordings and other materials are available to members only. Check out our membership plans here.

December 2024

Skills-First Starter Kit: Hiring Better, Faster. 

Hiring is hard. While skills-first (or skills-based) hiring models are promising, some employers report it is hard to use these models in practice. In November, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce published the Skills-First Starter Kit. The Kit describes step-by-step what it takes to hire well based on skills in an under 15-minute read. Project Lead Nick Beadle, Chief of Staff for Workforce and Communications Good Jobs Initiative, Office of Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, talked about the state of skills-based hiring, the tool, and the best ways to use it. 

November 2024

The Newly Redesigned SNAP Employment & Training Program

Betsy Suver, Deputy Director of the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) - which houses the SNAP and TANF programs for the State of Ohio, discussed how OFA worked with stakeholders to transform the State’s SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) program to better meet the needs of individuals and employers.  As part of this initiative, OFA has looked at workforce programs to determine how they can complement each other and not compete. Betsy outlined the resulting human-centered design approach to workforce that focuses on meeting individuals where they are and being transforming instead of being transactional. 

October 2024

Talking Policy with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Justin Barnes, Director of Workforce, Small Business, & Technology Policy, outlined the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's policy priorities as laid out in the Chamber's Blueprint for Ohio's Economic Future. Additionally, Justin spoke about the Chamber's 2019 report, Addressing the "Benefit Cliff" in Ohio. Benefits Cliffs have been a topic of conversation across human service, workforce development, and economic development organizations for many years. He also shared more about ideas they have for policies that can support Ohio's jobseekers and workforce.

September 2024

Bridging the Digital Divide: OSU and OU’s Role in Bringing 5G and Broadband to All

To celebrate workforce development month, September’s webinar covered a much talked about topic in Ohio and across the nation – the Digital Divide. In this webinar, we heard from:

• Laurie McKnight, MPA: Senior Research Manager – Broadband at OU’s Voinovich School (and OWC Leadership Committee Member!)

• Julie Maurer, PhD: OERC Senior Researcher at OSU’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs

• Traci Lepicki, MA: Curriculum and Training Program Director at OSU's Center on Education and Training for Employment

• Keli Bussell, MHRM, MA: Workforce Development Specialist at OSU’s Center on Education and Training for Employment

The speakers provided an overview of the digital divide and 5G/Broadband access projects in Ohio, implications for frontline program staff, and how to stay up-to-date with this rapidly changing topic. They discussed career pathways and training for the field, along with current and future employment opportunities.  

August 2024

Worker Centers: A Hub for Worker Voice, Education, & Advocacy

Across the country, worker voice has emerged as a critical component of workplaces and workforce development programs. In Ohio, several Worker Centers offer a range of resources and information to workers not represented by a traditional labor union. In advance of Labor Day, our August webinar featured Grace Heffernan, Director of the Northeast Ohio Worker Center. Ms. Heffernan shared an overview of worker centers and their roll in worker education, organizing, and advocacy efforts. She also discussed how the workforce system can use the power of worker participation to shape programing, better workplaces, and advance a more just economy. 

July 2024

Building Sustainable Collaborations to End Youth Homelessness

In this webinar, Dr. Mary Ann (Mimi) Haley, Executive Director of the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) discussed what was learned from NYEC's community of practice aimed at furthering the collaboration between housing and workforce, and uplifted recommendations communities can implement around how to best support their young people experiencing homelessness. 

June 2024

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Development in Ohio

Immigrants and refugees in Ohio offer an under tapped workforce opportunity and present a wealth of expertise and experience that is often overlooked. In June’s webinar, we learned more about Ohio's immigrant and refugee communities, and what types of program support and policy change can help them thrive at work.

Bryan Wright (Executive Director, Cincinnati Compass & OWC Leadership Committee), Tariq Mohamed (Director of New American Services, Jewish Family Services), and Guadalupe Velasquez (Managing Director, Welcoming City) provided an overview of immigrants and refugees in Ohio, participated in a panel discussion, and answered attendee questions.

May 2024

Workforce Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

What is the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland doing on the topic of workforce development? Kyle Fee, Policy Advisor, and Merissa Piazza, Lead Policy Analyst, explained why the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland focuses on workforce development and discussed some of the recent research on turnover amongst the childcare workforce, the potential labor force impacts of debt-related driver’s license suspensions, and worker motivations for self-employment.  

April 2024

Framework for an Anti-Racist Workforce Development System

In April, we heard from Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones, CEO of Chicago Jobs Council (CJC). Dr. Bly-Jones has over 20 years of experience in workforce development – implementing initiatives throughout the ecosystem, including with a workforce board, community college, and United Way.

CJC's focus is creating an anti-racist workforce development system where all workers experience equity and do not live in poverty. In 2023, CJC embarked on a journey to offer the workforce field an anti-racist framework for workforce development. In this webinar, Dr. Bly-Jones offered an overview of the framework and how CJC is advancing it throughout the field. We discussed the foundation framework values and how to use the cyclical framework (review & reflect, discuss, plan, and act). Dr. Bly-Jones also emphasized the actions individuals can take to advance an anti-racist workforce development system.

March 2024

Advocacy 101: How to Make an Impact at the State-Level

Erin Sheehan, State Network Manager at National Skills Coalition, and Bishara Addison, Director of Workforce Innovation at The Fund for Our Economic Future educated us on:

• The difference between advocacy, lobbying, and education – and the tradeoffs of each 

• Ways to can advocate today 

• The arc of an advocacy campaign, and the Ohio planning cycle

• How to use coalition building and political capital to create change 

February 2024

The Emerging Workforce: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

In February we look aedt workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities related to Gen Z. John Trott, Director of the Greater Ohio Workforce Board Inc., presented findings from a recent survey on young adults. In the ever-changing landscape of education, employment, and personal aspirations, Gen Z has emerged as a central focus of both workforce challenge and potential.  This webinar shed light on several crucial dimensions that employers and educators must grasp to effectively engage with Gen Z.

December 2023

OWC’s Local Advocacy & Workforce Development Efforts

As we close out the year, we reflected upon two local efforts launched by the Ohio Workforce Coalition (OWC) in the last year. In 2023, the Northeast Ohio Workforce Coalition became OWC’s first local affiliate. Jill Rizika, President & CEO of Towards Employment, shared about NEOWC, and discussed how connecting with OWC can help prioritize local advocacy priorities, align programming across systems, and grow local capacity.

The Northeast Ohio Workforce Coalition was also OWC’s local partner for Ohio’s first Workforce Leadership Academy. The Academy brought together a set of 22 diverse workforce development leaders (“Fellows”) from Cuyahoga County to build system thinking skills and apply them to addressing local workforce challenges. Two Fellows, Sheri Dozier from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Ron Scott from Towards Employment, shared their experience in the Academy and its benefits.

November 2023

SNAP Matters: Policy Efforts & Local Implementation

In Ohio, more than one million people receive SNAP benefits, and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks distributed take-home groceries to more than 3.5 million households in 2022. With cuts in SNAP due to the end of pandemic-era supports, food access is becoming more difficult for Ohioans. November's webinar featured three presenters who talked about local implementation and national advocacy efforts to stem hunger.

Hope Lane-Gavin from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks discussed the benefits of moving to a voluntary Employment & Training model in Ohio and barriers low-income college students face in accessing food. She talked about a grant program that would require institutions to commit to ending hunger and meeting student basic needs through a series of tangible actions (e.g., creating a campus food pantry) to receive the "hunger-free campus" designation and be eligible for a grant to further the work.

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is the country's largest reentry employment partner and provides paid work-based learning and advanced leadership training for Ohioans returning to the Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus areas. CEO is also a statewide SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) provider, and believes that voluntary SNAP E&T is a critical resource for those returning home from incarceration. Leah Bacon and Alyssa Bradley provided an overview of CEO's SNAP E&T program and the national policy efforts underway to strengthen the program as a whole - specifically through the bipartisan legislation titled the Training & Nutrition Stability Act or HR 3087.

October 2023

Building Better Together: How Ohio Can Leverage Federal Funds to Advance Quality Infrastructure Jobs

In the fall of 2021, President Biden signed into law a historic, nearly $1 trillion bill to invest in American infrastructure. This bill, along with the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), represent a huge opportunity to diversify the largely white and male infrastructure workforce and expand workers’ access to quality jobs.

In this webinar, Erin Sheehan and Patrick Mortiere from the National Skills Coalition (NSC) featured highlights from NSC’s newly published infrastructure state playbook, which provides a comprehensive set of strategies aimed at empowering state policymakers, governors, and state agency leaders to cultivate a strong, diverse, and multigenerational workforce capable of driving the development and maintenance of our nation’s new infrastructure. By implementing recommendations, state policymakers can connect more working people to quality jobs and create benefits for residents, businesses, and communities that rely on the implementation and maintenance of critical infrastructure.

September 2023

Introducing Ohio Workforce Coalition's 2023-2024 Policy Priorities

Participants joined OWC Director Rebecca Kusner as she shared the Coalition's current thinking on its 2023-2025 Biennium Policy Priorities, and helped shape where the Coalition goes in the future.

Based on feedback from the Fall 2022 survey of our mailing list, discussion with the Coalition's Membership Workgroup and Leadership Committee, and current conditions in Ohio and beyond, Rebecca outlined the Coalition's top priorities for the current legislative session. Guided by a Lead, Partner, Support framework, we talked about priorities aimed to build the skills of adult workers, meet the workforce needs of employers, and strengthen workforce systems.

Participants discussed priority topics in one of three breakout groups (individuals, employers, or systems) to help inform where the Coalition advocates this biennium.

August 2023

Workforce Development with Youth and Young Adults

In August, the Coalition continued to feature innovative workforce development practices that engage Ohioans in planning a career path that allows them to find a quality long-term job. We heard from three speakers engaging youth and young adults in career development.

Autumn Russell, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium, highlighted how a collective impact model can help engage students in career pathway awareness and exploration. By convening cross-sector partners, workforce professionals can embed career-focused opportunities in a student’s school day, aligning their interests and current curriculum to prepare them for in-demand careers in our region.

We also headr from Artemus Carter, Manager of Young Adult Programs at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, on how building connections in the Community, can help with your program recruitment. He also shared his experience working with and recruiting, both the youth and young adult populations at Y.O.U. for over 15 years.

Lastly, Hope Arthur, Executive Director of Workforce Innovation, and Nicci Weber, VP of HR & Administrative Services, from The Health Collaboratives spoke about the Regional Career Exploration Collaborative (RCEC) launched this past March. This new initiative is dedicated to building and operating more quality healthcare career exploration opportunities for middle and high school students, with a focus on those in rural communities, from low-income areas, and from under-represented populations in healthcare.

July 2023

Local Workforce Development Board Innovations and Best Practices

Ohio’s Workforce Development Boards (WDB) are leaders when it comes to new ways to engage workers, employers, and surrounding communities. Jennifer Meek Eells, Executive Director of the Ohio Workforce Association, gave an overview of WDBs in Ohio and highlighted projects from WDBs across the state. We then heard from two WDB Directors (and OWC Leadership Committee members!) representing mostly rural areas to learn about best practices and efforts happening across the state.

John Trott, Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Inc. (GOWBI) Director (Area 7), discussed GOWBI’s Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor program for signatory businesses. In this employer-led apprenticeship program, employers design trainings to meet their needs and choose current employees to upskill for career advancement. In Knox County, GOWBI’s OMJ Center is creating a virtual reality lab so workers can have more hands on job training and credentialing, leading to job placement.

We also heard from Laurie McKnight, WDB Director of Area 14, covering Athens, Meigs, and Perry Counties. Laurie talked about Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship for Auto Body and Auto Tech – a program successful in training individuals, but also an example of how to successfully braid funding to create a program that supports workers and local businesses. She discussed how Area 14 optimized Business Resource Network funding in Meigs County to promote success stories, network, and boost funding. Lastly, Laurie highlighted the work Area 14 has done on broadband/5g career readiness and what's to come.

June 2023

When Working Isn’t Enough: What Low-Wage Workers Need Post-COVID

In May, two new reports highlighted challenges faced by workers in low-wage jobs. The Ohio Workforce Coalition’s report, When Working Isn’t Enough: Wages and Public Benefits in Ohio, outlines 10 high growth low-wage jobs that keep workers eligible for public benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. For example, despite being on Ohio’s list of in-demand jobs, 90% of Nursing Assistants make less than $18 per hour, 22% receive Medicaid, and 14% receive SNAP. OWC Director Rebecca Kusner discussed other key findings and subsequent policy priorities. Read the full report here.

Also in May, Fed Communities, a collaboration between 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors, released findings from its national Worker Voices project. Worker Voices provides a unique view into how job seekers and workers in lower-wage jobs navigated the labor market at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and through recovery—and how it changed what they expect from a job. Sarah Miller, Principal Adviser for Community and Economic Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, summarized key research themes, including: factors during the pandemic that changed how many workers navigate the labor market; how the tight labor market has not benefited all workers equally; workers expectations of job quality; and how workers are reinventing themselves to change their economic opportunities. Read the full report and executive summary here.

You can access the session slides here.

May 2023

State & Federal Budget Overview: Workforce Development Highlights

In May, the Ohio Workforce Coalition (OWC) welcomed two guests to discuss the Federal and State Budget processes and workforce implications. Caroline Treschitta, Policy Analyst at the National Skills Coalition, provided an overview of the Federal Budget process, and highlighted workforce-related requests and the National Skills Coalition’s current advocacy efforts. Sarah Hudacek, Policy & Communications Associate at Advocates for Ohio's Future, gave an overview of the State Budget process and highlighted human services topics related to workforce development.

Resources:

• Access the presentation slides here

• OWC's new report on how low wage occupations may keep Ohioans on eligible for public benefits: When Working Isn't Enough: Wages and Public Benefits in Ohio

• National Skills Coalition's recommendations for the WIOA reauthorization

April 2023

Introducing OWC’s Membership Plans and Benefits

In March, the Ohio Workforce Coalition launched a number of membership plans. In our April webinar, we highlighted some of the benefits at each level so you can decide what membership level is right for you and your organization.

 Speakers included:

• Rebecca Kusner, OWC Director, who introduced the plans and discussed benefits we’re excited to share with you.

• Ali Krantz, Program Manager at Hope Street Group, who talked about the value of Skilling America certification covering four talent development domains.

For over 15 years OWC has worked at the intersection of workforce programs and systems to bring diverse stakeholders information, opportunities, and access. As the urgency of workforce and talent discussions grows, so too does the need for a multi-stakeholder, equity-driven, ecosystem approach to the challenges faced by workers, employers, and the systems that support them. With national networks, state and local experts, and a strong Leadership Committee, OWC is going big(ger)!

Resources:

• Become a member here

• Access the presentation slides here

• Compare membership plans here

• Check out our membership webpage here

• Check out Skilling America! Organization-level members receive 1-5 free seats (depending on membership level), and all members can purchase additional seats at a discounted rate.

• If you have any questions about the session, you can email Rebecca at info@ohioworkforcecoalition.org

March 2023

Closing the Digital Skill Divide presented by National Skills Coalition

In March, Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Senior Fellow at National Skills Coalition, discussed the report NSC released in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Closing the Digital Skills Divide: The Payoff for Workers, Business, and the Economy.

New research based on millions of "Help Wanted" ads shows that employers overwhelmingly require technology-related skills, across all industries and most occupations. In this briefing, find out how businesses' need for workers with digital skills differs across demographic factors such as educational level or years of experience. Get practical examples of how digital skills are showing up in occupations as diverse as home health aides, retail employees, construction workers, and frontline manufacturing workers. In addition to national data, Ohio-specific findings will be shared to help inform workforce development and adult/higher education partners as they respond to the changing labor market. Access the presentation slides here.

February 2023

Does Job Quality Affect Occupational Mobility?

Job quality, a well-known topic in workforce development circles, is an underutilized but useful lens with which to examine labor market conditions. In February's webinar, Kyle Fee, Policy Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, examined how job quality affects a worker’s occupational mobility over time and if the COVID-19 pandemic changed the occupational mobility of workers, especially those in the lowest-quality jobs. Access the presentation slides here.

 Click here to read Kyle's article, Does Job Quality Affect Occupational Mobility? And check out the Occupational Mobility Explorer here.

January 2023

What You’ll See (from OWC) in 2023!

In 2022, we celebrated 15 years of the Ohio Workforce Coalition!

The new year brings new partnerships, new strategies, and new projects to kick off another 15 years! On our January call, OWC Director Rebecca Kusner highlighted plans for 2023 within OWC's two strands of work: Policy Identification & Advocacy and Network Building & Engagement. She shared the results of the policy priority survey from the fall, updated attendees about plans for the budget and next general assembly, discussed new member benefits, and updated participants about ways to connect. Access the slides here.

November 2022

ApprenticeOhio Discussion with ODJFS

Holly Endicott, Program Administrator of ApprenticeOhio for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' Office of Workforce Development joined us to discuss the value of apprenticeship and how your organization can become a sponsor. ApprenticeOhio helps employers develop apprenticeship programs, provides reimbursement incentives for eligible employers (sponsors), and helps job seekers find a paid apprenticeship. ApprenticeOhio also offers pre-apprenticeships for high school students and helps veterans find the right apprenticeship for them using their G.I. Bill educational benefits. Access the slides here.

October 2022

Job Quality Defined: A Conversation with Aspen Institute

On October 4, 2022, the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Program announced that over 100 leaders from across the country had come together to develop a shared definition of job quality. Leaders from business, labor, workforce development, and policy have set forth an evidence-based, shared definition of job quality as part of the Good Jobs Champions Group, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Families and Workers Fund. On October 27th our own Aspen Job Quality Fellow and OWC Director, Rebecca Kusner sat down with Maureen Conway, VP and Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Program to discuss this work and the importance of quality jobs in Ohio. 

Want to learn more?

• Click here to read Aspen's Statement on Good Jobs.

• Watch the video below or click here to learn what job quality means to Job Quality Fellow and OWC Director, Rebecca Kusner.

September 2022

The State of Working Ohio

In our September webinar, Dr. Tanisha Pruitt, State Policy Fellow and Budget Researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, highlighted key insights on the state of work in Ohio. From pay equity, to disparities in job accessibility, and unemployment, Dr. Pruitt presented data to show race and gender gaps still exist in workforce outcomes. She discussed recent inflation and job loss due to COVID-19, and how unions promote better wages for workers. You can access the slides here.

 Click here to read the full State of Working Ohio report.

August 2022

Look to the STARs: Changing the Definition of Skilled

In our August webinar, Look to the STARs: Changing the Definition of Skilled, Bridgette Gray, Chief Customer Officer, and Jennifer Shamy, Senior Director of Market Expansion at Opportunity@Work, discussed what it means to use skills-based hiring and how to apply skills- and competency-based approaches to talent development and hiring. They highlighted the STARs*(Skilled Through Alternative Routes) initiative, discussed the ramifications of using college degrees as a hiring requirement, and showed how the Ohio workforce stacks up against the U.S. workforce in providing opportunities for STARs*. You can access the slides here.

July 2022

Job Quality with National Fund for Workforce Solutions

Every month we hear about new jobs coming to Ohio — Intel alone projects 3,000. At the same time, many people are reconsidering what they want in a workplace and employer. But what exactly does quality job design and a quality workplace mean? How do workforce professionals identify quality employers and how do companies identify opportunities to make their jobs and workplaces better?

 For our July webinar, Melissa Kleder, MA, Program Manager for the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS), shared NFWS’s Job Design Framework and discussed best practices that map to quality job outcomes — a win for workers and employers. You can access the session slides here.

June 2022

Updates with the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services

In April, Rachel Johanson outlined exciting opportunities available from the Office of Workforce Transformation. In June, Julie Wirt, Assistant Deputy Director at the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services’ (ODJFS) Office of Workforce Development and Jay Mendoza, ODJFS Bureau Chief, discussed ODJFS current programs, new developments on the horizon, and their thoughts on WIOA reauthorization. 

May 2022

Community Action Month:
Workforce Development & Community Action Agencies

In May, we celebrated Community Action Month! This month’s webinar introduced us to four Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across Ohio. We heard from CAA staff who outlined the wide range of services CAAs provide as they become increasingly involved in workforce and talent development:

• Yvonne Cherell, CEO, Ohio Urban Resources System

• Teresa Gary, Vice President of Workforce Programs for IMPACT Community Action

• Marilyn Montes, Chief Operating Officer of Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership

• Tomeka Rushing Director of Employment and Career Services at Pathway, Inc.

You can view the session slides here.

April 2022

Office of Workforce Transformation Updates
with Deputy Director Rachel Johanson

If you haven't yet met Rachel Johanson, the Deputy Director of the Ohio Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation, now is the time! Ms. Johanson has served Ohio in many legislative and policy capacities under Gov. Mike DeWine, former Gov. John Kasich, and former Sen. Kirk Schuring. In this webinar, she discussed the Office of Workforce Transformation's current work and upcoming opportunities. A question and answer session followed, highlighting useful resources and ways to get involved.

As mentioned in the webinar, we are passing along OWT's Broadband/5G Strategy and 2021 Annual Report. You can view the session slides here.

March 2022

Equitable Pathways to Small Business Recovery: An All-Hands Approach

Join us for a panel discussion on how local governments and partners are helping advance an equitable recovery for workers and small businesses.  

Patricia Voltolini, Senior Research Associate at LISC, presented findings from LISC’s new playbook, Equitable Pathways to Small Business Recovery: An All-Hands Approach, including a framework for developing and implementing small business support strategies in ways that advance equitable economic outcomes for entrepreneurs and workers. We heard from Daniel R. Sanchez, Mayor of the City of Fremont; Chari Mullen, City of Fremont's Director of Diversity and Inclusion; Sarah Allan, Program Officer from LISC Toledo; and Olivia Holden, Executive Director of Assets Toledo on their successful initiatives to advance workforce equity and inclusion in Ohio. You can view the slides here.

February 2022

Using Social Media Listening to Analyze the Worker Shortage

Almost two years into the pandemic with abating unemployment rates and loosening restrictions, the labor market is not seeing the influx of returning workers as expected. John Trott, Executive Director of the Greater Ohio Workforce Board, explored workforce trends over the past 50 years, along with barriers, influences, and shifts in behavior resulting in eligible participants not returning to the Ohio labor market. John focused on two topics: 1) the reasons Ohioans are citing for not participating in the workforce and 2) using the innovative approach of large scale social media listening as a means to gather unfiltered, unedited qualitative data from individuals. You can view the slides here.

January 2022

Happy Birthday, OWC & Get Involved!

In 2022, the Ohio Workforce Coalition (OWC) celebrates 15 years of network building, engagement, policy development, and advocacy efforts! Organized in 2007, the OWC has impacted everything from state funded sector partnerships to the creation of the Office of Workforce Transformation. The OWC's efforts are even more critical during these times of significant change. During this webinar, the OWC director and members of the leadership committee provided an overview of national trends, key areas of focus in Ohio, and more about how you can specifically connect, engage, and help advance the work. Past members shared the impact OWC has had in the workforce ecosystem over the past 15 years. You can view the slides here.

If you’d like to be more involved in the work OWC does, please fill out this form.

December 2021

Celebrate the Season with Members of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Community Development Team

The Ohio Workforce Coalition hosted a meet and greet with new team members and new to us resources from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Community Development (CD) Team. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s CD Team works hard to understand the issues facing the fourth district. Through research, convenings, and meetings with stakeholders, the CD Team is bringing light to critical issues and they wanted to hear from OWC consumers. During this informal meet and greet, the newest members of the CD Team shared a bit about themselves and their role. They were joined by other members of the Team and each participant shared a workforce related resource available to you from their team.

In case you missed the webinar, we're sharing the assets with you here:

• FRB of Cleveland's Program on Economic Inclusion

• FRB of Cleveland's Labor Market Inclusion Charts and Data

• FRB of Atlanta's Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF)

• Fed Communities' information on women in the labor market, caregiving, and economic recovery.

• FRB of Saint Louis's data on the COVID retirement boom

Policy, Advocacy, and Training for Direct Care Workers

The direct care workforce is an important sector comprised of home care workers, nursing assistants, and others caring for Ohio's older adults and people with disabilities. Angelina Del Rio Drake, Chief Strategy Officer for PHI, discussed the state of the direct care workforce, how employers can support their workers, and what policy changes can help. She introduced us to the 5 Pillars of Direct Care Job Quality, and provided statistics on the state of the direct care workforce in Ohio.

To end the session, we heard from Michelle Collins, Vice President of ConxusNEO. Michelle shared the value of training from PHI that was recently completed by 10 employer partner managers in the disability services sector. You can view the session slides here.

November 2021

Workforce Investments for Ohio’s Future

In this webiner, you’ll hear from workforce development leaders about how ARPA and other funds should be invested to secure the future of Ohio’s workers, workplaces, and workforce systems. Workforce development stakeholders from across Ohio shared their ideas for how funding available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the recently released Build Back Better Framework can have maximum impact.

Invited presenters include: the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, the MetroHealth System, Vibrant Ohio, Northeast Ohio Worker Center, Deaconess Foundation, and others. Presenters were joined by public sector leaders and decision-makers invited from the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, the Governors Office of Workforce Transformation, the Ohio General Assembly, and more.  

September 2021

Family Literacy and Workforce Development

In honor of Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, and to acknowledge the important role that family literacy plays in workforce development, September’s webinar featured Donna Albanese, State Director of Aspire at the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Donna shared what’s available in adult basic literacy programming, offered an overview of some promising collaborations across the state, and answered participant questions.

August 2021

Income Share Agreements: An Exciting New Tool or Too Risky to Use?

Throughout 2021, there has been a lot of excitement about a new tool available to pay for post-secondary training. Income Share Agreements have fans and foes, but only a few real experts. View OWC’s August webinar to hear from one of them.

Ethan Pollack is Director of Financing the Future at JFF, where he leads Financing the Future, an initiative that seeks to reimagine the way education and skills development investments are financed. Mr. Pollack will provide an overview of Income Share Agreements as a financing mechanism, talk about some of the things to really keep an eye on, and answer your questions.

June 2021

Racial Equity in the Workplace with OhioHealth

Qiana Williams, Vice President of Culture, Engagement & Inclusion and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at OhioHealth, talked about addressing racial equity in the workplace. Qiana discussed topics such as: deploying racial equity strategies in the workplace - meaningful efforts vs. wokewashing, fostering conversations about racial equity in the workplace, racial equity approaches from different perspectives, and how community-based organizations can engage with employers about racial equity.

May 2021

Good Jobs Institute: Good Jobs are Good for the Bottom Line!

Sarah Kalloch, Executive Director of The Good Jobs Institute shared about the Institute’s work, and answered important questions such as: Why should quality jobs matter to businesses? Why is job quality more than job design? What state policy considerations might help advance a job-quality agenda?

 The Good Jobs Institute is a non-profit with a mission of helping companies thrive by creating good jobs and redefining what success means to business. To accomplish this, Sarah and her team partner with companies across the country—from Fortune 500 chains to mid-sized regional companies and investors looking to add a good jobs strategy to their portfolio of companies. They offer tools, case studies, and thought leadership to help businesses transform. You can view the slides online here.

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