Concurrent Sessions

Work-Family Policies and Inclusive Skills Training  

Work-family support policies include access to paid family and sick leave, affordable and high-quality childcare, basic needs assistance, and more. These policies help working people, particularly women and others who shoulder caregiving responsibilities, achieve lasting economic mobility and equity. They also make it possible to pursue skills training and earn credentials that enable employers to fill in-demand jobs. This session will explore work-family support policies and how skills advocates can advocate for them as part of broader coalitions. 

Panel Discussion
Wendy Chun-Hoon, Director, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
Kameron Dawson, Senior Staff Attorney, A Better Balance
Ife Finch Floyd, Director of Economic Justice, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone, Director of Student Affairs, Montgomery College, and Owner, Wishful Doing

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Moderated by
Lindsey Reichlin Cruse, Senior Fellow, National Skills Coalition

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Implementing People-Powered Infrastructure 

The combined $2 trillion investment from three new federal clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure laws will transform the physical landscape and create millions of jobs. But to realize the possibilities, our nation must invest in training, credentials, and essential supports needed to access these jobs. This session will feature federal agency representatives overseeing implementation of these policies along with partners in a new coalition working at the state and federal levels to build a diverse, multi-generation infrastructure workforce.   

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Panel Discussion

Traci R. Scott, Workforce Development Vice President, National Urban League
Mauricio Garcia, Senior Vice President, Programs, UnidosUS
Maya Goodwin, Senior Advisor, Workforce and Economic Opportunity Policy, Office of Energy Jobs, U.S. Department of Energy
Paige Shevlin, Strategic Advisor for Infrastructure Workforce Development, Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation

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Moderated by
Melissa Johnson, Managing Director, State Strategies, National Skills Coalition

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Digital Equity @Work in Skills Policy 

As states implement the federal Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, best practices are emerging that connect efforts to close the digital skill divide with states’ broader workforce, education, and equity goals. Scaling these strategies across states, and helping workers and businesses remain resilient in the face of technological change, will require Congress to build on the success of the Digital Equity Act. This session will feature officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, followed by a discussion with national and local experts.

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Panel Discussion
Dr. Jon Gant, Director of the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, NTIA
Brittany Woods-Orrison, Broadband Specialist, Alaska Public Interest Research Group
Terri-Ann Brown, Director of Miami Tech Works, Miami Dade College
Monique Murphy, CEOARE fellow
Marcus Little, Director of Customized Workplace English, Literacy Center of West Michigan