A community investment in promoting leadership skills within the local workforce is being offered under a new program called the Workforce Leadership Academy.
Rachel Snyder, senior workforce adviser for the city’s Economic Development Department, told us. “The city and Central New Mexico Community College are really excited because we're one of only three organizations nationwide to be selected to host this Academy. It's a workforce leader leadership Academy and it's in partnership with the Aspen Institute. The theme of the Academy is to strengthen local workforce ecosystems by bringing together leaders who are committed to advancing equitable economic opportunity.”
Rachel elaborated, “The Academy is going to equip local leaders with tools that let them create better job opportunities...you know, apprenticeships and career pathways that will lead to family-sustaining wages. We believe this will result in stronger businesses and a more resilient local economy. The Academy is aimed at the local leaders, who will be recognized as Academy fellows, and will come from across the Albuquerque workforce ecosystem for a year-long series of retreats, workshops and action learning projects. We are supported by a $50,000 grant from the Aspen Institute, which is very exciting, and then we also have five community partners who each pledged $10,000 to support the Academy over the one year.”
“The model is a train-the-trainer model, so CNM Community College, and the city are going to be facilitating the Academy and will host these retreats and workshops over the course of the year with the idea that fellows are then empowered to go back into their places of work bringing these ideas with them to really address workforce challenges.”
The Academy is currently in the recruitment stage of fellowships and will be fully launched in May. For more information contact the Workforce Leadership University online at https://abqedd.com/wla/.
Other staff includes Mary Silentwalker, facilitator, CNM Community College, and Justin Hillard, workforce development liaison, City of Albuquerque.