As stated by talent and workforce development professional Clair Minson in her May 2020 piece, COVID-19 Revealed That Our Field Needs a Reckoning, the field of Workforce Development is at a critical juncture. We are experiencing three simultaneous crises – a global pandemic, the danger of a serious economic collapse, and a renewed awareness of persistent, deeply ingrained systemic racism. Prior to the pandemic, while experiencing a massive economic boom and a tight labor market, we had the unique opportunity to leverage those favorable conditions and think about ways to drastically change how workforce development goals are accomplished.
 Now, this issue is a moral imperative.

SkillWorks, Boston’s workforce development funder collaborative and the Boston Foundation’s workforce strategy, has undergone a major leadership transition. Andre Green joined the Foundation as the Executive Director of SkillWorks in August 2020, bringing a new vision explicitly centered on equity. 

Please join the Boston Foundation and SkillWorks for an introduction to Andre Green and a discussion about the future of workforce development with an explicit focus on racial equity. This virtual event will feature a conversation with Amanda Cage, President and CEO of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.

Welcome
Orlando C. Watkins, Vice President for Programs, The Boston Foundation

Introducing the New Leader of SkillWorks
Andre Green, Executive Director, SkillWorks

Remarks from a New National Leader
Amanda Cage, President & CEO, National Fund for Workforce Solutions

Fireside Chat and Audience Q&A
Kaitlyn Bean, Senior Program Officer, SkillWorks (Moderator)

Closing Remarks
Trinh Nguyen, Director, Mayor's Office of Workforce Development, City of Boston

A live stream link will be sent after registration, prior to the event.

By working in collaboration with a wide range of partners, the Boston Foundation provides opportunities for people to come together to explore challenges facing our constantly changing community and to develop an informed civic agenda. All of the Boston Foundation's civic leadership activities are supported by our Annual Campaign for Civic Leadership. Visit www.tbf.org/civicleadership to learn more about this important campaign. Visit www.tbf.org to learn more about the Boston Foundation and its activities.