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National Skills Coalition’s field staff has launched an intensive organizing effort in several states in order to expand the base of our coalition members. Senior Field Organizer Andrea Glispie and Field Coordinator Ashley Shaw recently touched down in Nevada and met with several education and training stakeholders including College of Southern Nevada, Workforce Connections, Goodwill of Southern Nevada, Nevada Partners and the Culinary Training Academy of Las Vegas. The visits resulted in a better understanding of how the public workforce boards, colleges, unions and community-based organizations in the state are helping workers and industries navigate an economy still recovering from the Great Recession.
Nevada is one of several states in which NSC field staff has advanced base building efforts. This work is being driven by the need to build stronger working relationships with specific lawmakers on key committees or leadership positions by mobilizing stakeholders that reside in their states and districts.
When it comes to federal education and workforce policy and budget decisions, Nevada’s congressional delegation is an important touch point. Representative Joe Heck (R-NV3) sits on the House Education and Workforce Committee. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also calls this state home. In a recent employment report the Senator stated, “Although it is reassuring that July marked the 43rd straight month of year-over-year job growth in Nevada, our unemployment rate shows that there are too many Nevadans struggling to find a job and make ends meet.”
NSC hopes to use Sen. Reid’s comments as a springboard for working collaboratively with new partners in the state to show how investments in education and training provide a way back into the labor market for many unemployed workers.
If you are interested in learning more about the states in which we are organizing, please contact Ashley Shaw.
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