Summit Sequels: From theory to reality: How skills advocates are advancing digital skills policy

There’s lots of conversation about digital skills, but how are workforce and education advocates actually tackling this issue on the ground? In this Summit Sequel, hear directly from state and local leaders about how they’ve advanced new policies that measure digital skills and create more equitable upskilling pathways for workers in frontline jobs. Find out how advocates have created digital upskilling programs that meet worker need and business demand. You’ll also get the latest updates on federal digital skills policy – including how the field can ensure the rollout of $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act investment helps close equity gaps, and upcoming opportunities to ensure that Congress incorporates digital skills into legislation such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, higher education bills, and new investments in industry-specific skills.

Panelists:
-Priyanka Sharma, Vice President, World Education, Inc.
-Ka’ala Souza, Digital skills consultant
-Greg May, Founder, Nexus Technology Services
-Melissa Sommer, Vice President, Brighton Center

Moderator:
Caroline Treschitta, Policy Analyst, National Skills Coalition

Resources shared in the chat during the Summit Sequel:

• Learn more about the forthcoming $2.75 billion in new federal funding for digital skills in NSC’s Digital Equity Act fact sheet
• Dig into more statistics about the 1 in 3 US workers who have limited digital skills (but often need to use computers on the job!) in NSC’s The New Landscape of Digital Literacy report and our Applying a Racial Equity Lens to Digital Literacy fact sheet.
• Find out how foundational (basic) digital skills can be measured using tools such as the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment
• Learn more about the federally funded research project that Priyanka’s organization, World Education is co-leading. It’s called Digital Resilience for the American Workforce (DRAW). Register to learn more about how states and local programs can participate in DRAW activities on Aug. 18
• Get more on the concept of digital resilience from our friends at the DigitalUS Coalition
• Looking for professional development for program instructors who are teaching digital skills? Check out World Education’s IDEAL Consortium and the Digital Skills Library with 2,000 curricula/resources for educators
• Don’t miss the Digital Navigator Playbook that panelist Priyanka Sharma also mentioned

More about our speakers and their partners:

• Curious to know more about the various workforce and education programs offered by the Brighton Center in Kentucky? Here is just one of them.
• Find out more about Nexus Technologies, the company that panelist Greg May runs in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• More on Michigan’s Going PRO program
• See how Hawaii conducted a groundbreaking Digital Readiness Survey of state residents, including those in rural areas, by phone (see also NSC’s blog post with summary, and the original terrific report by John Horrigan for Pew that informed Hawaii’s efforts)
• Learn more about Zippy’s, the restaurant chain that has collaborated with Hawaii workforce leaders to measure incumbent workers’ digital skills
• Check out World Education’s A Call to Action for Adult Education Advocates and Leaders

Resources shared by other webinar-attendees

• For those interested in enhancing their digital upskilling initiative to include digital financial skills, check out www.fdic.gov/MoneySmart
• SUNY’s #EmTechMOOC is a free online resource available to anyone who wants to improve their digital/media skills.