Josh Davies, CEO of the Center for Work Ethic Development is passionate about helping others make a difference in their lives, jobs, and community. We were fortunate to have Josh deliver one of the FRED Talks as well as a breakout session at the recent ACT Workforce Summit. By using employer-based research, defining the seven behaviors of work ethic, and innovative teaching, participants discover how to make lasting behavior change. On episode 15 of Ready for Work, we feature Josh’s FRED Talk with trends in social-emotional learning and some insights on millennials and generational decline that may surprise you.

15 Work Ethic for the 21st Century Workforce with guest Josh Davies

USDA’s Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity identified five indicators needed to achieve prosperity in rural America: e‐Connectivity, Quality of Life, Rural Workforce, Technological Innovation, and Economic Development. To achieve the outcomes detailed in the report the Southwest Tennessee Rural Workforce Readiness Collaborative is building a comprehensive regional interagency approach to help bridge the skills gap and connect Rural Workforce Development, Education with Economic Development. The group created innovative learning networks that leverage technology and build on Work Ready Communities. The collaborative received a first-of-its-kind grant from USDA that is likely to serve as a national model for similar programs across the nation seeking to build on the success of Work Ready Communities and generate investment in the talent pipeline.

16 Connecting Rural Development Strategies and Resources with guests Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy

The Condition of Career Pathway Readiness in the United States 2019 report is packed with a wealth of good information for counselors, students, or folks looking for a job change. On this episode, ACT Researchers Mary LeFebvre and Jeff Steedle discuss more.

17 Career Pathway Readiness with ACT Researchers Mary LeFebvre and Jeff Steedle

Work Ready Communities (WRC) from ACT is a framework for community-based workforce development to drive economic growth. Regions improve their workforce and compete on quality for location consultants, investors, and other decision-makers using data powered by the WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate. Episode 18 of the  showcased  and the . The WRC website has a  on economic development as well.

18 Site Selection and Workforce Development with Guest Mark Arend

Reentry efforts from the Missouri Department of Corrections equips returning citizens for the workforce with the WorkKeys NCRC, career credentials, work experience, and barrier removal support services. Shelly Jacobs, a Reentry Specialist with the department, joins us on episode 19 of Ready for Work. Missouri is known as the Show-Me State, and Shelly helps us visualize the important features of reentry, such as employer engagement, economic development, integration of supportive services, and ways Missouri connects with reentry strategies nationwide. The episode also touches on ACT’s new partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to implement skills-based hiring, and other helpful resources to excel in reentry.

19 Making the Most of Second Chances - Successful Pathways from Corrections to Careers - with Guest Shelly Jacobs

Mississippi’s Smart Start program generates adult education completers with their high school equivalencies, career credentials, and college credit.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brownwyn Robertson is a Project Specialist with Smart Start inside the Office of Adult Education of Mississippi’s Community College Board.&nbsp;&nbsp;ACT’s WorkKeys Curriculum is one of the solutions that pulls together the learning content of Smart Start.&nbsp;&nbsp;Episode 20 of Ready for Work digs deeper into what makes Mississippi Smart Start successful.&nbsp; Resources:  &nbsp;(PPT)

20 Mississippi Smart Start Adult Ed Success through ACT WorKKeys Curriculum with Guest Brownwyn Robertson

As a pandemic impacts communities everywhere, regional workforce ecosystems must implement reemployment strategies to become more adaptable. Hear stories of resilience happening real-time.

21 Resilient Workforce Ecosystems Leading Skills-Based Economic Recovery

Ready for Work episode 22 is the first of three on the ALEDA Framework using Skills-Based Hiring for Disaster Recovery and Economic Resiliency. The five-part framework is Adapt, Lead, Engage, Deploy, and Analyze. We focus this episode on the Adapt phase in Data, Skills, and Systems.

Guests and Contributors
Mary LeFebvre, ACT Governmental Affairs Eric Canada, Blane-Canada Ltd.Chris Manheim, Manheim Solutions and Certified WorkKeys ProfilerVirginia Hamiliton, WorkforceGPSSean McCoy, Public Consulting Group
Resources
Sign up for ACT Toolkits on Skills-Based Hiring for Recovery and ResiliencyBRE Covid Response Network from Blane Canada LtdACT WorkKeys JobPro Database (for probing skill levels by job title)Customer-Centered Design Community of Practice from WorkforceGPSWorkforceGPS Pathway to Recovery ResourcesContact Risk Database for Return to Work PlanningACT Workforce NewsletterACT Workforce SolutionsACT Work Ready Communities

Adapting for Recovery with Data, Skills, and Systems

Workforce ecosystem leaders encounter plenty of challenging layers to disaster recovery and economic resiliency.&nbsp;ACT curated a five-part toolkit with a framework we call ALEDA.&nbsp;We covered the Adapt phase in Episode 22.  In this installment, we explore the Lead and Engage phases.&nbsp;We have an interview with Lisa Rice, a former Workforce Director turned leadership consultant.&nbsp;Lisa offers perspectives on three qualities of a leader in disaster recovery, and advice for those new to skills-based recovery systems.&nbsp;Mike Longo, a workforce director in the certified Work Ready Community of Lorain County, Ohio.&nbsp;Through the OhioMeansJobs centers, Mike’s team deployed the Make Your Lay Off Pay Off initiative.&nbsp;Mike shares lessons learned from the last economic downturn, and how they reformed training and quality standards in their deployment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Guests and ContributorsLisa Rice, Every Strength CountsMike Longo, Lorain County Workforce Agency and OhioMeansJobs CenterACT Case Study on Ohio Re-Employment Success in Lorain County/Northern OhioACT Case Study on Ohio Statewide Re-Employment SuccessEd Morrison, Agile Strategy Lab and co-author of Strategic Doing
ResourcesSign up for the ACT Toolkits on Skills-Based Hiring for Recovery and ResiliencyEvery Strength Counts Leadership Development, Consulting, Peer EngagementLorain County OhioMeansJobsEpisode 22:  Adapt Phase of ALEDA Framework (Part 1 of 3)Episode 24:  Deploy and Analyze Phases of ALEDA Framework (Part 3 of 3)Episode 4:  Getting Strategic About Doing Agile Strategy Lab ACT Workforce NewsletterACT Workforce SolutionsACT Work Ready Communities


23 - Leading and Engaging Recovery and Resilienccy

In our third of three episodes dedicated to Skills-Based Recovery and Resiliency, episode 24 brings us to the Deploy and Analyze phases in the five-part ALEDA framework.  Sean McCoy from Public Consulting Group shares some factors worth considering in the deployment of recovery services remotely.&nbsp; We’ll check out some best practice examples in remote work-based learning with Kelly Dyer in Missouri, and remote instruction with Brownwyn Robertson in Mississippi.&nbsp;Mike Longo and Mary LeFebvre are back with us to share tips and perspectives in analyzing recovery and resiliency efforts.&nbsp; 

Guests and ContributorsSean McCoy, Public Consulting GroupKelly Dyer, Missouri InternConnect and ApprenticeConnectMike Longo, Lorain County Workforce Agency and OhioMeansJobs CenterBrownwyn Robertson, Mississippi Adult Education Smart StartMary LeFebvre, ACT Governmental Affairs 
ResourcesPublic Consulting Group and VERA SolutionMissouri InternConnect and ApprenticeConnectEpisode 11:  Next-Level Apprenticeship and Work-Based LearningACT Case Study on Ohio Re-Employment Success in Lorain County/Northern OhioACT Case Study on Ohio Statewide Re-Employment SuccessEpisode 20:  Adult Education Success in Mississippi with WorkKeys CurriculumMississippi Adult Education Smart StartWorkKeys CurriculumEpisode 22:  Adapt Phase of ALEDA Framework (Part 1 of 3)Episode 23:  Lead and Engage Phases of ALEDA Framework (Part 2 of 3)ACT Workforce NewsletterACT Workforce SolutionsACT Work Ready Communities


24 - Deploy and Analyze Recovery and Resiliency Inititives

We all have a stake in making our communities more competitive. Closing the skills gap and driving economic growth starts at the grassroots level. Tune into the Ready for Work podcast for a bimonthly discussion about strengthening the workforce ecosystem.

Make ACT Ready for Work your go-to source for ideas to revolutionize your workforce. Provided by the experts. Curated by ACT. Learn more at act.org/readyforworkpodcast.

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