Providing Second Chances to the American Worker: A Look at the Kentucky Chamber Foundation's Workforce Center

Center for Education and Workforce
February 7, 2022
Two horses on a farm with the sun rising
© Getty Images
The horse industry in Kentucky reigns supreme. With more than 1,100 horse farms, the equine industry contributes an estimated 60,000 jobs and $6.5 billion of direct and indirect economic impact. However, the industry has experienced major labor shortages that stagnate growth. Laurie Mays, the equine and agriculture talent pipeline project manager at the Kentucky Chamber Foundation Workforce Center, saw an opportunity to develop a more comprehensive Workforce Readiness and Reentry Program for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Talent Pipeline Management
Workforce Training

Authentically Sustaining STEM Equity Through Education

Corporate Citizenship Center
February 3, 2022
CombustionOfHydrocarbons
© Discovery Education

As the demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs continues to grow, companies need to focus on sustainably building equity into such opportunities. Discovery Education strategically partners with like-minded organizations, such as the Caterpillar Foundation, to deliver engaging learning experiences every single day to classrooms in the U.S. and across the world to foster more pathways for STEM careers.

Asha Varghese
Amy Nakamoto
Innovation
K-12 Education
STEM

Black-Owned Small Business Apostrophe Puzzles Brings Greater Equity to the Art World

Corporate Citizenship Center
February 2, 2022
Apostrophe Puzzles
© Apostrophe Puzzles
Masden started Apostrophe Puzzles to showcase the work of contemporary artists of color in December 2019 and received a grant from the Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB) last year. The multi-year initiative founded in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, American Express, and the nation’s four leading Black chambers – provides critical support and immediate financial aid to Black-owned small businesses through grants, mentorship, and other resources.
Economic Empowerment
Entrepreneurship

Black-Owned Small Business Woofbowl Delivers Smiles For Dog Lovers Amid Adversity

Corporate Citizenship Center
February 2, 2022
Woofbowl
© Woofbowl

Ron Holloway, co-owner of Woofbowl, a food truck business that specializes in nutrient-dense meals for dogs, navigates specific challenges as a small business owner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB) – a multi-year initiative founded in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, American Express, and the nation’s four leading Black chambers – helps provide opportunities for success. Since launch, the CBBB has distributed $5,000 grants to more than 1,000  Black small business owners across the country and continues to offer resources to help business owners thrive.

Economic Empowerment
Entrepreneurship

What Talent Are You Missing Out On?

Center for Education and Workforce
January 26, 2022
Black Male Developer
© Getty Images
While corporations may use background policies or educational requirements as proxies for trust or ability, this isn’t borne out in the data. More importantly, it means that they are missing out on a highly committed, often diverse candidate pool that could contribute to their bottom line.
Sara Wasserteil, Managing Director, Expansion and Integration, Cara Collective
Competitiveness
Economic Growth
Workforce Training

Brief: Everything Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Income Share Agreements

Center for Education and Workforce
January 19, 2022
Asian Male Small Business Owner
If you’ve heard of an ISA, chances are, it was related to education. ISAs have been popular in the education space for about a decade, helping would-be students pay for programs, degrees, certifications, or bootcamps. However, ISAs have applicability well beyond learning. They’re an incredibly powerful tool that lets people use their future potential as collateral for capital.
Will Stringer
Economic Empowerment
Education
Entrepreneurship

Lifting Up Communities on the National Day of Service

Corporate Citizenship Center
January 18, 2022
Two women wearing masks are volunteering
© Getty Images

In celebration of the work and leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through the National Day of Service yesterday, many companies offered programming to support communities and eliminate systemic inequities. While the country navigates the impacts of the Omicron variant on its healthcare system and supply chains, the importance of supporting one another, especially the most vulnerable populations, is more important than ever.

Marc DeCourcey
Corporate Citizenship

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