The WIOA program department of our organization, SWVA Works, attended the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals‘ annual Youth Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina this past November. Debi, Lisa, Meridith, Mike, Robyn, and Stephanie hit the road in search of knowledge to help them all effectively serve our region’s youth population.
Our staff had a chance to hear how other areas across the nation are engaging young adults. From learning about apprenticeships to practicing self-care, the event gave our crew tons of great ideas and inspiration.
When asked if anything funny happened, Debi said, “… [D]uring one of the sessions, the fire alarm went off, and we had to evacuate the building. Two of the presenters entertained the crowd outside in the parking lot.”
“The great thing was coming together with others doing the same job,” said Debi. “Learning that our struggles are nationwide and not necessarily because of where we live, getting ideas to bring back, and learning about different resources… it helped revitalize us, and we’re already implementing what we learned.”
