During our April virtual convening of our MAX Leadership Network, we heard from Nathaniel Smith from the Partnership for Southern Equity about how racial inequities impact the workforce and considered questions for how we can collectively work to address them. Smith provided a highly insightful presentation filled with evidence-based data from several expert sources that make a repeated case for being more inclusive in our economic development efforts in order to improve the economic mobility of populations vulnerable to poverty and substandard living. In doing so, he stressed how the case is even more paramount in this time of COVID-19 as their economic challenges have been exacerbated.
Click here for the presentation.
Following Smith’s presentation, we heard from John Helton with Atlanta CareerRise who shared an update on the Regional Workforce Initiative. As racial inequities have been identified as a leading challenge for our Atlanta region, Smith’s presentation is timely for informing the work of this initiative.
ABOUT THE MAX LEADERSHIP NETWORK
The MAX Leadership Network is comprised of workforce leaders who convene regularly to strengthen our collective capacity as workforce developers to meet the needs that employers have for a ready workforce. Members of this network come together to jointly do the following:
- Learn more about who is doing what, where, and for whom
- Explore common issues and opportunities, and share ideas for building solutions
- Make new connections and catalyze partnerships
- Keep each other updated and informed on ways we can help each other
Members of the Leadership Network represent nonprofit CBOs, technical colleges, state agencies, local workforce boards, chambers of commerce, intermediaries, and other key partners in workforce.
The MAX Leadership Network will convene again on June 8th.