No images? Click here Mariana Torres Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership AcademyJoin us in congratulating LISC Phoenix Assistant Program Officer Mariana Torres in being named to the Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy. Mariana mangages our local network of Financial Opportunity Center partner sites that deliver income support, employment counseling, and financial coaching to the local community. Recently her responsibilities have expanded to include support to our partners organizations that provide technical assistance to local businesses. ![]() The Center for the Future of Arizona Introduces the Inaugural Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy FellowsLocal leaders selected for the program in partnership with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program Today, the Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) introduces the inaugural class of the Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy Fellows who are participating in a new program designed to improve local economic mobility and workforce development efforts and create innovative solutions to the challenges faced by workers and businesses.The Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy, a 10-month fellowship developed through a partnership between CFA and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, is designed to strengthen the local network of non-profit, government, academic, and business leaders through a series of retreats and workshops that enable collaboration on solutions to common challenges. The Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy is the latest in a series of Workforce Leadership Academies hosted in communities across the United States and Canada. It is the first in Arizona, launched this year with the generous support of Walmart. The 24 Fellows selected for the Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy Class of 2021-2022 represent a range of nonprofit organizations, business associations, institutes of higher education, training organizations, and public agencies. The program launches May 11-13 and will culminate with a collaborative capstone project presentation in February 2022. Fellows in the inaugural class are:
“CFA is pleased to partner with the Aspen Institute to bring this significant program to the Greater Phoenix area because a competitive workforce is key for Arizona to thrive in the 21st century. Sustainable economies rely on the creation and retention of jobs filled by a vibrant and robust talent pool,” said Sybil Francis, Ph.D., president & CEO of CFA. “With COVID-19 impacting our state’s workforce systems, there’s never been a better time to strengthen the leadership pipeline, deepen collaborative relationships locally, and invest in developing professionals who lead our workforce organizations.” According to CFA’s 2020 Gallup Arizona Survey, Arizonans want more good-paying jobs and the education and training to fully participate in a vibrant economy. Strengthening
the workforce development system leaders through the Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy contributes to the development of quality jobs and the related education and training necessary to access quality jobs and develop meaningful careers. “Collaboration grows at the speed of trust, and today’s workforce development leaders are increasingly being asked to create solutions through collaboration,” said Sheila Maguire, senior fellow at the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and director of the local network of Workforce Leadership Academies. “This Academy is a rare opportunity for these local leaders to step back with colleagues from Phoenix, reflect on their own organizational challenges, hear from leading practitioners from around the country, and develop the network and trust so essential for success.” “Walmart is delighted to support the inaugural Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy,” said Gayatri Agnew, senior director of opportunity at Walmart. “This collaboration is a great example of how workforce professionals can come together to support their community and build equitable workforce systems that foster mobility.” The Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy will be led locally by Holly Kurtz, workforce development director, and Orlando Cazarez, senior program manager with CFA, and a local Advisory Council. Biographical information on the Academy Fellows is available here and a roster of the Advisory Council members is available here. |