In my experience engaging with various Participatory Governance structures in early care and education, I have learned a crucial takeaway:  when families are treated as partners rather than merely recipients, early childhood systems become more ripe for change. That’s the premise of our close collaboration with the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Parent Cabinet. Since 2023, I have partnered with the OEC to enhance the experience of Parent Cabinet Members (PCMs), specifically by including parents’ voices directly in the decisionmaking processes that impact their children and families.

Last year, we shared

At Third Sector, our post-secondary opportunity work keeps coming back to the same challenge: too many learners do what we ask of them and still run into unclear, disconnected pathways to opportunity.

They complete training, earn credentials, and build skills through work and short-term programs. But when it is time to translate that progress into a new job, a higher wage, or the next step in their education, the system does not always meet them halfway.

That gap shows up in how skills and credentials get documented, shared, and understood. It is

Originally posted via LinkedIn.

Communities that thrive harness disruption as an opportunity for transformation.

Right now, our communities are navigating constant change: shifting federal policies, budget uncertainty, workforce crises, and AI evolution. But here’s what we’ve learned from 15 years partnering with governments and community leaders: the agencies that thrive, not just survive, are the ones who see disruption not as a threat but as an opportunity for transformation.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, child care systems across the country began collapsing. Parents and caregivers were left without options for care, forcing

In Arizona, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) serves as the state’s central authority for labor market information, providing the data and analysis that inform critical workforce and economic development decisions. As Arizona’s economy continues to grow and diversify, the state has a unique opportunity to shape its future workforce by aligning data, policy, and investment around the green economy.

One of the biggest challenges in building a green economy is the lack of a standardized definition for “green jobs.” Without clear parameters and a shared understanding of green jobs, it

Minnesota leads the U.S. in addressing climate change, with the goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, in alignment with the state’s comprehensive Climate Action Framework, its strategy for addressing and preparing for climate change. Minnesota leaders view addressing climate change as an opportunity to bolster the economy and foster a more inclusive state. Minnesota’s “Drive for 5 Initiative” focuses on recruiting from and providing opportunities for underserved populations in the near-term to meet the high demand and project growth of priority occupational groups, including clean energy, trades, and

Michigan is actively pursuing a clean energy future, and like many states, faces the critical challenge of not just creating new jobs, but establishing high-quality, family-sustaining careers to attract, cultivate, and retain a skilled workforce. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) sits at the center of this effort, connecting residents with employment opportunities and helping businesses find the talent they need to thrive. As a participant in the Families and Workers Fund’s Powering Climate and Infrastructure Careers (PCIC) initiative, LEO strives to build an equitable and prosperous