Central to philanthropy at the intersection of workforce development and postsecondary education, community colleges serve first-generation learners, adult workers seeking to upskill, and young people navigating the transition from high school to career. In the second meeting of Workforce Matters’ Read more
Improving access to high-quality jobs: lessons from Encuentro’s immigrant workforce model How do we improve immigrant workers’ access to quality jobs? The answer — according to workers themselves — is far more layered than workforce development programs and funders typically Read more
Thanks to all members and speakers who joined us for Workforce Matters’ 2026 budget briefing and discussion on March 31. A special thanks to Economic Opportunity Funders for their always-excellent Annual Budget and Tax Briefing, which provided the foundation for Read more
Galiana Fajardo, Senior Principal, Programs, Redefine Alliance Tell us a little bit about your background and why you joined Workforce Matters. I’m from California’s Central Valley, a region that has been systematically under-resourced compared to its sister regions, the Bay Area and Read more
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 Read more
WORKFORCE MATTERS | 2026 PROGRAMMING UPDATE At Workforce Matters, we are privileged to convene a national network of funders who share a commitment to expanding equitable access to quality jobs and education for young people and adults. As we move Read more
Nina Bershadker, Executive Director, The Taft Foundation Tell us a little bit about your background and why you joined Workforce Matters. I am relatively new to workforce development and joined Workforce Matters because I’m excited to learn from this community. Read more
Donna James-Harvey, Regional Director – North Texas, Holloway Family Foundation Tell us a little bit about your background and why you joined Workforce Matters. I began my career in the nonprofit sector 15 years ago, with workforce development becoming an Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more