Texas has a young and diverse population of working-age adults, but are we ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
Over the past few years, we’ve seen how quickly the job market can evolve. Expanding opportunities for Texans to update and build their skills is critical to filling employer demand for good jobs that pay family-sustaining wages in a fast-changing economy. In 2021, Trellis Foundation announced $2.2 million in grants to nine grantees to participate in the Regional Ecosystem Innovation for Reskilling and Upskilling cohort:
- Amarillo College
- Education to Employment Partners
- Foundation Communities
- Greater Houston Partnership
- Project Unity
- Prosper Waco
- San Antonio Education Partnership
- Temple College
- Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas
In collaboration with our technical assistance partner, Jobs for the Future (JFF), the Foundation’s goal was to strengthen reskilling and upskilling strategies and foster stronger regional collaboration among postsecondary and workforce initiatives.
As this multi-year project winds down, we’re excited to share a new video celebrating and commemorating the work of the cohort:
In addition, JFF has developed a slate of practical tools for the field based on lessons learned throughout the project:
- Aligning Workforce and Education Initiatives: Lessons for Funders, Leaders, and Practitioners
- Strategies for Aligning Workforce and Education Initiatives: Lessons from a Workforce Board
- Partnering for Success: Coordinating Cross-Sector Partners to Drive Outcomes and Increase Synergy
- Effective Engagement in Regional Initiatives: Steps to Design a Communication Plan to Elevate Client Insights
Check out all the tools, research, and other resources related to Trellis Foundation’s Regional Ecosystem Innovation for Reskilling and Upskilling cohort on our website. >>
About the Author
Mia Ibarra joined the Trellis Foundation in 2023 with more than 14 years of experience in nonprofit, government, and philanthropic service. Before Trellis, she was an advocate and campaign manager at Every Texan (formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities), a statewide public policy nonprofit. Mia’s previous higher education background includes the Udall Foundation, where she managed the competitive undergraduate Udall Scholarship program. Mia is passionate about the transformative power of higher education and lifelong learning.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political economy from the Evergreen State College and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.