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Midwest Urban Strategies

Empowering Workforce Development Partners with Best Practices, Resources, and Knowledge

Midwest Urban Strategies collaborates with workforce development boards and their key partners to enhance workforce systems in urban areas across the Midwest.Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, we strive to address the unique challenges faced by urban communities. Some of these challenges include unemployment, underemployment, and economic disparities.

Our work focuses on creating sustainable solutions that lead to increased job opportunities, improved economic mobility, high quality early childhood education, and a more skilled and welcoming workforce.By leveraging their collective expertise and resources, Midwest Urban Strategies aims to drive positive change and foster thriving urban economies.

8,117
People Served
450
Professional Development Hours
$42M
Grant Dollars Deployed
$26.53
Average Placement Wage

Partnership Through Community

By collaborating with regional partners across the Midwest, Midwest Urban Strategies spearheads efforts to ensure that workforce development programs and economic opportunities are accessible to all communities.Through tailored strategies and dedicated support, the organization continues to grow a vibrant, welcoming community—all through the power of partnership.

Learning Labs and Events

Midwest Urban Strategies serves as a leading educational platform for economic and workforce development professionals, offering a wide range of dynamic learning opportunities.Our annual convenings bring together experts and practitioners to exchange ideas, share innovations, and explore best practices in the field.In addition, our ongoing webinar series, Learning Labs, delivers accessible, actionable insights designed to equip professionals with the tools they need to drive meaningful change in their communities.

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Partners

Midwest Urban Strategies and its partners have collectively impacted over 500,000 individuals through job training and employment programs, contributing to a notable reduction in unemployment rates across the Midwest. Together, our collaborative network has leveraged over $150 million in funding to support a wide range of workforce development initiatives, resulting in the creation of thousands of new jobs and measurable enhancement of local economies. With a strong emphasis on innovation and accessibility, our partners continue to connect individuals to meaningful career opportunities, driving economic growth and long-term prosperity throughout the region.

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Our Member Organizations

Membership

Midwest Urban Strategies offers a unique collaborative network that connects urban workforce development organizations across the Midwest, fostering innovative solutions and sharing best practices to enhance regional economic growth.

Our organization's members gain access to a wealth of resources, including expert insights, funding opportunities, and powerful partnerships, all aimed at driving meaningful change in their communities.

Our Members

Debra Bahr-Helgen

Debra Bahr-Helgen

Executive Director
,
City Of Minneapolis Employment & Training
Tammy Biery

Tammy Biery

Executive Director 
,
Career Solutions
JoAnn Breedlove

JoAnn Breedlove

Executive Director
,
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board
Earl Buford

Earl Buford

President
,
CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning)
Julie Cayo

Julie Cayo

Interim CEO
,
Employ Milwaukee
Lisa M Daugherty

Lisa M Daugherty

President & CEO
,
Center of Workforce Innovations
Stacey Fowler

Stacey Fowler

SVP, Minority & Small Business Empowerment
,
Stacy E. Johnson

Stacy E. Johnson

YWCA St. Louis Chief Program Officer/ Head Start Director
,
YWCA Metro St. Louis
Connie Johnson

Connie Johnson

Executive Director, SLATE Missouri Job Center
,
St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)
Robert King

Robert King

Executive Director
,
South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, Inc.
Marie Mackintosh

Marie Mackintosh

President & CEO
,
EmployIndy
Clyde McQueen

Clyde McQueen

President & CEO
,
The Full Employment Council (FEC)
Jim McShane

Jim McShane

CEO
,
The Workforce Alliance
Sandy Mead

Sandy Mead

Vice President of Workforce Development, Skilltrade
,
Skilltrade
Lisa Patt-McDaniel

Lisa Patt-McDaniel

,
Aspire Workforce Initiative
Chris Rivers

Chris Rivers

CEO
,
Visionz | Support Education Empowerment
Keely J. Schneider

Keely J. Schneider

Executive Director for Workforce Partnership
,
Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas

Executive Director
,
Southeast Alabama Workforce Board
Robert Shimkoski

Robert Shimkoski

Director of Planning and Resource Development
,
DESC - Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Tera West

Tera West

Deputy Director
,
Kentuckiana Works
Dana L. Williams

Dana L. Williams

President & CEO
,
DESC - Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Sara Worstell

Sara Worstell

Executive Director
,
Southwest Indiana Workforce Board
George Wright

George Wright

CEO
,
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Beth Yoke

Beth Yoke

Executive Director
,
Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio