California has taken an important step toward reshaping how young people prepare for the workforce with the release of its Master Plan for Career Education. The plan lays out an ambitious vision: creating clearer pathways from education to meaningful careers and ensuring that Californians have opportunities to build the skills and experience they need to thrive in a changing economy.
But having a vision is one thing. Turning it into opportunity for young people across California’s diverse regions is another.
During the Strategic Planning phase of Sierra Jobs First, the topic of bringing youth into the workforce and advancing them into career-level roles, especially through opportunities to strengthen the industry sectors that are vital to the health of the Sierra region, was raised frequently.
A recent CalMatters article highlights a challenge that will sound familiar: California doesn’t necessarily need more programs—it needs stronger connections among the programs, employers, educators, and workforce partners already doing the work.
Forging these connections has been a focus of the work of our Industry Sector Coordinators, and the release of the California Master Plan and observations by pundits like CalMatters make it clear that the work of building those connections will long outlive Sierra Jobs First.
To stay involved in the Industry Sector convening led by our Insustry Sector Coordinators, visit SierraWorks.org and Sierra Healthcare Industry Partnership.