Workforce Matters

Webinar Recap: What Philanthropy Needs to Know About Apprenticeship Right Now

Interest in apprenticeship is growing across the United States—from policymakers and employers to education leaders and workforce practitioners. Yet the country’s apprenticeship system remains far smaller than those in other advanced economies. Workforce Matters members and guests explored these challenges and opportunities on our March 5 webinar, “Apprenticeship: What Funders Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Rewriting Who Belongs — Narrative, Disability, Youth, and the Role of Funders

Last October, Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Keely Cat-Wells (Making Space), Tamiera “TC” Nash (Louisiana Opportunity Youth Alliance), and Tracy Van Slyke (Pop Culture Collaborative) joined Further Together for a powerful panel on narrative. Together, they explored how cultural stories shape how we see work, workers, and workforce systems—and how those stories Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

2026 Skills Summit Reflections

On February 5-6, Workforce Matters co-directors and many of our Steering Committee members attended the National Skills Coalition’s annual Skills Summit. It was a good way to set the tone for our annual leadership retreat.  We are still reflecting on a few key themes that emerged over the course of Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Setting the Stage: Why Narrative Matters in Workforce Development

Last October at Further Together, one of the most thought-provoking conversations focused on something often invisible in workforce development, but deeply powerful: narrative. Moderated by Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, the panel featured Keely Cat-Wells (Making Space), Tamiera “TC” Nash (Louisiana Opportunity Youth Alliance), and Tracy Van Slyke (Pop Culture Collaborative). Together, Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Further Together Highlights: Leveraging Business Intermediaries and Community Colleges to Advance Inclusive Workforce Systems

Meaningful and scalable workforce systems change does not happen in silos. It requires coordination across employers, education providers, funders, and community-based organizations—each bringing distinct strengths to a shared goal. This premise anchored the session Leveraging Business Intermediaries and Community Colleges to Advance Inclusive Workforce Systems, which highlighted lessons from Lumina Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Further Together Highlights | Building A Resilient Future: Aligning Climate Adaptation with Workforce Innovation

Building A Resilient Future: Aligning Climate Adaptation with Workforce Innovation During our Further Together conference this fall, we convened a powerhouse plenary conversation to discuss the intersection of climate adaptation and workforce development innovation. Moderated by Jenny LaForest of the Holloway Family Foundation, we heard from Saket Soni of Resilience Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago