Economic and Community Development

Education and workforce work was a reoccuring theme at the Metro Council meetings this winter.  That was no surprise, talent has been a top issue for chambers of commerce for decades and the business community has poured lots of time and resources into various initiatives all along the education pipeline.

What I’m learning, however, is that leading work on education and workforce issues increasingly comes from alliances between business, schools, universities, foundations and civic groups that adopt a holistic, cradle to career approach. One or two groups collaboring on a narrow set of issues just isn't moving the needle. This broader approach is essentially regional stewardship thinking applyied to the challenge of skilled workers.

One of the most promising – Cincinnati’s Strive Partnership – was the subject of Neal Peirce’s column last week for Citiwire.net.  Here’s an excerpt:

The Strive idea is that once multiple players in a region come together, sharing information and insights, they can pull back and see how the education system functions as a whole — and then set targets ranging from early childhood education to college graduation.

It’s not an easy formula. It means active, ongoing engagement by mayors, city and county city governments, foundations, businesses, social service agencies and others — plus teachers, administrators, university faculty. It’s a call for no-excuses collaboration. It means groups performing the tough act of putting their personal educational theories to the side.

Read the full column here: Communities Setting Audacious ‘Cradle to Career’ Education Goals

Learn more about the Strive Partnership at: http://www.strivetogether.org/

Tags: strive, talent, workforce, cincinnati, education, regional cooperation, regionalism