The DeBruce Foundation is delighted to sponsor this year’s Center for Education and Workforce Talent Forward event, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which consisted of presentations from industry leaders that explored a variety of ideas for reimagining the workforce talent pipeline, including:

• increasing alignment of K12 education and workforce training to meet the needs of industry and real-world careers in the modern economy
• improving childcare and family support to increase workforce productivity, and
• addressing barriers to learning, including lack of access to broadband internet and reliable technology in low-income communities

Notable data from the summit revealed that while Covid-19 has forced most education and training programs to go online, over 12 million students lack home internet access and there continue to be opportunity gaps in information on in-demand careers and access to experiences that provide diverse job seekers with the skills, mentoring, and confidence needed for success in the modern economy.  Solutions discussed at the Summit emphasized the need for supporting a broader, more diverse talent pool and looking to local and regional business communities across the U.S. to help prioritize improvements to K12 education and partner in the provision of wider access to high quality education, career exploration, and training for in-demand professional skills.

Presentations included sessions on rethinking education, connecting skills training with employer needs, using digital skills to build a future-proof workforce, and using diversity, inclusion, and mentoring to eliminate the opportunity gap. The DeBruce Foundation is committed to including these insights in our continuing work to expand access to career pathways.  Each of the 2020 Talent Forward Summit presentations can be watched here.