Over the last several months, I have had the opportunity to personally share A Tale of Two Cities with hundreds of interested stakeholders. To my surprise, I have not really been challenged on whether or not this is a real path to our economic rennaissance. The only exception is some skepticism on whether or not all the jobs really exist (however, this is less of an issue following an April 19 Wall Street Journal commentary by David Wessel, "Lack of Well-Educated Workers Has Lots of Roots, No Quick Fix"). Maybe I just haven't asked the question right. So — do you buy it? Will increasing the education level of our residents yield substantial economic returns? Let's talk.
Posted by Sallie Glickman on May 11, 2007 5:01 PM
Comments
John Elliott Churchville said:
It is clear that a better educated workforce is one way of growing and sustaining economic development in our region. But the real question is: How do we develop the skills and abilities of our residents who are not (nor will be) college-trained, to take advantage of urban "green collar" businesses and jobs that are and will be created in our region? Given the projections of future growth in the environmental business sector, one necessary focus of workforce development should be teaming up with environmental entrepreneurs and environmental stakeholders to develop basic training modules that equip unemployed, underemployed and re-entry populations to earn a living wage in areas such as retrofiting of buildings, installation of solar panels, and weatherization of homes. These areas are no means exhaustive of the possibilities open to us in the region. There are national models that we can examine: Van Jones' work in Oakland, CA; Majora Carter's work in the Bronx, NY. There is also the local experience of the American Cities Foundation with grass-roots environmental projects in North, West, and Southwest Philadelphia to guide us.
Posted on January 3, 2008 10:04 AM
Dear Philly said:
Philadelphia is the true test of humans. If we can't do it here in Philly, then life as we know it is not looking too good. Potential is all I think of when I am in Philadelphia. Great city, great people and now great opportunity.
Philly has it. Now let's do it!
Posted on April 22, 2008 3:03 PM
Candis Smith said:
Do you really want to move forward in this challenge? Stop talking about better training programs, more education, etc. If that was the answer, people would already be employed and educated. The question is what is keeping the people of Philadelphia illiterate, undereducated and unemployable?
The root of the problem is this; chronic loss. It is one of the most debilitating conditions any one can have. It's what stops children from learning in school, parents from good parenting, and people from getting and keeping work. If you want things to change, start addressing this. Teach people about losses across the life span. Start acknowledging grief and supporting the process. This is what I Have been doing one person, one family at a time over the last 25 years. It works. We need to get it in schools, training programs, community centers, ex-offender programs.You can create any programs you want, but without this piece, nothing will change for the better.
Posted on August 12, 2009 10:43 AM
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