Earlier this summer, I highlighted the development of the Willamette Early Learning Apprenticeship program and the strong partnership between Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency’s (MWVCAA) workforce system partners and employers committed to strengthening Oregon's early learning workforce - the workforce behind the workforce. Today, that partnership is already producing results. More than a year after launching the innovative Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program, MWVCAA celebrated an important milestone: the graduation of the program's first cohort of apprentices.
MWVCAA received assistance from the Early Childhood Workforce Connector (ECWC), a national independent ECE apprenticeship intermediary co-founded by Midwest Urban Strategies, to develop, launch, and implement its successful RA program. ECWC's Kimberly Farris recently attended MWVCAA's graduation celebration, which recognized 14 apprentices from the program's inaugural cohort. The event honored their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to building careers in early childhood education while underscoring the value of apprenticeship as a workforce development strategy.
Kimberly told me that “the graduation was a powerful reminder of what partnership makes possible. Willamette Workforce Partnership, the workforce development board for Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, was an early supporter of the Willamette Early Learning Apprenticeship program, helping champion the vision for a regional workforce solution grounded in employer needs and community collaboration. That commitment came full circle at the graduation, where Kim Parker-Llerenas, Executive Director/CEO of Willamette Workforce Partnership, served as keynote speaker and celebrated the apprentices’ achievements alongside the partners who helped bring the program to life.”
As family members, employers, mentors, and community partners gathered to celebrate, the event reflected the collective investment that made the program possible. These newly trained early childhood professionals are prepared to support children and families throughout the Willamette Valley while contributing to the long-term stability of the region's early learning workforce.
The program's growth since its launch demonstrates the significant demand for apprenticeship opportunities in the early childhood sector. Since welcoming its first cohort in January 2025, the Willamette Early Learning Apprenticeship has expanded to 94 active apprentices. Notably, 47% of participants entered the program with no previous experience in early childhood education, highlighting apprenticeship's effectiveness as a workforce entry point and talent development strategy.
Interest in the program continues to grow, with a substantial waitlist of prospective apprentices seeking opportunities to enter the profession. In response, MWVCAA is working to engage additional employers and expand apprenticeship capacity, creating more pathways for individuals interested in careers in early learning while helping employers address workforce needs.
As the first graduates of the Willamette Early Learning Apprenticeship program, these apprentices represent the promise of RA to build sustainable talent pipelines in high-demand industries. Their success, combined with the program's continued expansion, demonstrates how workforce boards, employers, intermediaries, and community partners can work together to strengthen critical sectors of Oregon's economy.
As Kimberly noted, “The graduation celebration served as both a recognition of the graduates' accomplishments and a reminder of what is possible when workforce development investments are aligned with industry needs.” As the program continues to grow, the Willamette Early Learning Apprenticeship is helping build a stronger, more skilled early childhood workforce, benefiting educators, employers, children, and families across the region.
