Presented by Livia Rojas, Senior Project Manager, Adult Learning, Digital Promise; Angela M. Walker, Manager, Middle and High School Success, StrivePartnership; Connor Pennell, Visual Associate, J Crew; and Holly Dobson, Licensed Practical Nurse

Sponsored by Digital Promise

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Join us for Part 2 of this edLeader Panel series focused on building networks for frontline talent development.

Frontline workers, from medical technicians and retail associates to fast-food workers and delivery drivers, face increasing uncertainty when it comes to their future of work. But what do workers think about their own career pathways in today’s digital economy? Amidst a global pandemic? What do frontline workers have to say about their own futures of work?

In Part 2 of this edLeader Panel series, Digital Promise is joined by three workers from retail, healthcare, and social services to discuss how workers view the “talent pipeline,” and what they need to access and participate in upskilling and job opportunities.

Digital Promise shares key findings from our new report, “Building Networks for Frontline Talent Development.” Panelists share their experiences when it comes to their motivations, challenges, and suggestions for navigating today’s changing workforce system.

This edLeader Panel is intended for adult education and career service providers, higher education institutions, employers, and community leaders interested in building cross-sector partnerships to streamline service provision and advance opportunities for adult learners. This panel will be very informative for educators at all levels who are involved in college and career guidance, to help students make better choices about jobs for the future.

View Part 1 here: Building Networks for Frontline Talent Development – Part 1

About the Presenters

Livia Rojas supports Digital Promise’s adult learning and micro-credential initiatives as a Senior Project Manager. Prior to Digital Promise, Livia oversaw youth media arts programs and teaching artists serving adult learners at the Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco. At ChangeLab Solutions, Livia provided public health communications support and at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault provided technical assistance to college campuses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce sexual and partner violence. Livia holds a Master of Science in social work from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.

Angela Walker is the Manager for Middle and High School Success for StrivePartnership, a collective impact organization with leaders from education, business, philanthropic, nonprofit, civic and grassroots communities in Cincinnati. Angela began her adult learning journey after becoming a single mother. Determined to find a path that would lead to higher levels of education, competencies, achievement, and self-sufficiency, she enrolled in Brown Mackie College when her daughter was 6 months old, and navigated the system to secure daycare vouchers, section 8 housing, and medical and food assistance. She obtained an internship with the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati Workforce Development department. Following her graduation with an associate degree, she obtained employment with the Urban League and continued to work there while pursuing her B.S. degree. She pursued her graduate degree in social work while working as a substitute teacher and as a full-time intern at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

After graduating with a degree in political science this spring, Connor Pennell currently works as a campaign manager on a political campaign. He continues to work retail as a way to supplement his income. Connor has worked in retail for over three years and at three different companies, both as a way to finance his education and to supplement his income from other jobs. While working retail, he has also held positions in various political campaigns and as a science teacher over the summer.

As a single mom, Holly Dobson took weekend classes to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), developing skills in patient care. She worked as a CNA for 11 years until hearing about a local program to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Holly was able to access state grants to cover tuition and now works in a long-term care facility in Maine, while pursuing higher education to become a registered nurse (RN). In our interview, Holly said, “my biggest regret is that I didn’t start this sooner, that I didn’t know about the LPN course or that I qualified for tuition assistance as a single mom. I could have been a nurse by now.” Holly currently serves as an expert advisor for the Digital Promise adult learning team.

Join the Career, Technical, and Adult Education community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

Digital Promise’s mission is to accelerate innovation in education to improve opportunities to learn. We work at the intersection of research, education, and technology to reduce the digital literacy gap for learners of all ages.