Blogs
From Thrive Quad Cities to Grow Quad Cities: A Journey From Insight to Impact
By Lisa Le Fevre and Joy Lewis
This blog post highlights how key interest holders embraced and acted on recommendations from a regional education and workforce analysis in Illinois and Iowa.
How California Community Colleges Are Strengthening Support for Adult Learners: Project Milestones, Resources, and Insights from the UDW Adult Learner Demonstration Project
By Jasmine McGee and John Brauer
In this blog post, we share recent milestones from the United Domestic Workers Adult Learner Demonstration Project, including lessons from the third annual Project Summit, the launch of a new statewide Toolkit, and plans to continue building pathways that are more accessible for adult learners.
Building Healthcare Pathways: Strategies From Two Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Consortia Projects
By Lisa Le Fevre and Val Pedroza
This blog post features strategies being employed by two regional cross-sector consortia for developing collaborative healthcare pathways. These consortia are addressing employer and student workforce and training needs to bolster access to in-demand healthcare careers.
Adult Education Could Lead Pre-Apprenticeship
By Meghan McBride and Debi Pezzuto
In this blog post, we argue that adult education is uniquely positioned to lead pre-apprenticeship efforts by leveraging its trusted relationships, foundational skills instruction, and workforce partnerships to create accessible entry points into Registered Apprenticeships and expand economic mobility for adult learners.
Beyond ROI: What the Metrics Academies are Revealing About Credentials of Value and Economic Mobility
By Rachel Antrobus and Brenda Hernandez
In this blog, we explore what Metrics Academies are surfacing about credentials of value, why traditional return on investment (ROI) measures fall short, and what it will take to design skills-first pathways that truly support economic mobility.
No Degree Needed?
By Sterling Smith
In this blog, we cut through social media hype to share what the data actually show about six-figure earners without a college degree in Los Angeles County—and five realities that shape who reaches $100K with only a high school diploma.
Why Job Quality is the Hidden Driver of Workforce Mobility
By John Brauer
In this blog, we explore how job quality is a powerful—and often overlooked—driver of economic mobility, and we offer a practical framework for workforce systems and employers to strengthen wages, benefits, scheduling, worker voice, and advancement so jobs become true stepping stones instead of dead ends.
Real Jobs, Real Skills, Real Lives: Redesigning Postsecondary Pathways for Working Adults
By Alex Lozanoff
What does it really take for postsecondary education to pay off for working adults today?