As we enter a new year, NEW BEGINNINGS reminds us that fresh opportunities emerge when we choose to collaborate in new ways. Today’s workforce development landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technology, employer demand, and the urgent need to create more accessible pathways into high-growth careers. Now more than ever, our impact depends on building strong, intentional partnerships that meet the needs of job seekers and employers alike.
At Skilltrade, we believe deeply in the power of partnership. The support and leadership of Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) has played a meaningful role in helping us connect with new collaborators across the region. MUS continues to serve as a convener, a catalyst, and a trusted bridge between training providers, workforce boards, and employers who share a common mission: ensuring people have access to quality training that leads to real opportunity.
Looking ahead, I am especially excited about expanding relationships with CAEL, an organization that has long championed adult learners and innovative education-to-employment pathways. By bringing together the strengths of MUS, CAEL, workforce boards, and higher education institutions, we can build training models that are flexible, scalable, and aligned to what both job seekers and employers need right now.
This year presents an opportunity to think differently, work collectively, and design solutions that meet people where they are, whether they are just beginning a career or looking to advance into higher-wage, higher-skill roles. Together, we can create aligned pathways that combine industry-recognized credentials, hybrid and online training, strong employer partnerships, and the wraparound supports that make completion possible.
Here’s to a year of NEW BEGINNINGS, New partnerships, new pathways, and new chances for individuals across our communities to thrive. I’m grateful for the collaboration so far, and I look forward to the work we will continue to build together.
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