Special to 1808Delaware
The Ohio Workforce Coalition (OWC), in partnership with the Greater Ohio Workforce Board (GOWB), will launch a second cohort of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program’s local Workforce Leadership Academy (Academy) in Delaware, Knox, and Licking Counties.
The Academy brings together leaders – recognized as Fellows of the Academy – for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. Fellows work with leaders and experts from across the state and country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs. Alumni of the Academy become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Fellows Network, joining Fellows from over twenty previous Academies across the US and Canada.
“A high-capacity, responsive, and agile local workforce ecosystem is critical to increasing the chances of sustainable and equitable economic growth,” said Rebecca Kusner, Director of the Ohio Workforce Coalition and lead for the Academy. The OWC is one of eight partners across the country selected by Aspen in 2022 to implement the Academy. The first Ohio cohort ran in 2023 in Cuyahoga County.
For cohort two, OWC is partnering with the Greater Ohio Workforce Board. GOWB is a local workforce area serving forty-three Ohio counties through OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) centers. GOWB Executive Director, John Trott serves on OWC’s Leadership Committee. “GOWB shares OWC’s commitment to system thinking and capacity building. We are excited to bring this Academy to three counties that continue to work together to build stronger workforce systems,” said Trott.
Jennifer Ellis-Brunn, Director of the Licking County OMJ, also speaking on behalf of the OMJ Directors in Delaware and Knox counties, Robert Anderson and William Boone, said, “We’re already doing great work across this landscape. I believe the Workforce Leadership Academy will continue to strengthen that spirit of collaboration, effectiveness, and innovation in meeting the needs of our ever-growing communities.”
Fellows will be selected through a competitive application process led by an Advisory Council being convened this summer. Applications will be accepted from senior-level managers from across the ecosystem of nonprofit organizations, business associations, union-based training efforts, adult literacy, community development, philanthropy, economic development, public agencies, and post-secondary education and training who have the authority to implement changes. The application process is now open for submissions.
More information is available at www.ohioworkforcecoalition.org/academy. Email info@ohioworkforcecoalition.com with questions or to be added to the Academy mailing list for invitations to informational webinars, updates about the advisory council, and notice when applications are available.
This second cohort is made possible with support from the Ohio Department of Job and Family services.
Source: Ohio Workforce Coalition; Image: DALL-E 3
