2022 NYCETC Conference: Advancing Talent & Equity for a Thriving Economy

October 13, 2022

Our fall 2022 Conference “Advancing Talent & Equity for a Thriving Economy” examined the systemic, programmatic, and business challenges and impactful solutions found within workforce and economic development. We welcomed over 450 professionals committed to workforce development, with another 150 online, for a day filled with conversation, presentations, and networking.

Recordings of the conference’s panel discussions and fireside chats are outlined below, and moderated by reporters from NY1, the The New York Times, WNYC, Crain’s NY Business, NYN Media, and Gotham Gazette. Throughout the day, we featured a variety of 8-minute TED-style solutions presented by our members and partners that showcased the diversity and creativity of New York City’s workforce ecosystem.

Access a recording of the conference on our YouTube channel and follow along with the slideshow and transcript.

Morning Agenda
The morning sessions are centered around the City’s vision for an improved workforce ecosystem and equitable recovery. We will hear from leadership from the Mayor’s Office, City agencies, and the City Council on their vision and plans creating a stronger system and services for New Yorkers and businesses, and how service providers can collaborate.

8:00 am Registration
Check-in and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea and a light breakfast.

9:00 am Welcome Remarks

Join us for opening remarks with the following speakers:

Watch our conference welcome remarks.

9:20 am The City’s Economic Recovery and the Future of Workers

Discussion with members of the Future of Workers Task Force to provide a deeper understanding of the role, goals and objectives of the Task Force and its engagement with workforce service providers to create a stronger system and services for New Yorkers and businesses.

Watch The City’s Economic Recovery and the Future of Workers panel discussion.

9:50 am Implementing a Vision for a Stronger Workforce System
Discussion between City agency leadership at HRA, SBS, DYCD and NYCEDC about how the Mayor Adams’ economic recovery blueprint will reflect their overall programming plans over the next two years, current and future contracts, and how community based organizations can better partner with agencies.

  • Jill Berry, NYC Dept. of Social Services / @NYCHRA
  • Je’Nean Jones-Seo, NYC Dept. of Small Business Services / @NYC_SBS
  • Cecilia Kushner, NYC Economic Development Corporation / @NYCEDC
  • Denice Williams, NYC Dept. of Youth & Community Development / @NYCYouth
  • Moderator: Nicole Hong, New York Times / @nicole_hong @nytimes

Watch Implementing a Vision for a Stronger Workforce System panel discussion.

10:20 am Solution: The Promise of Good Jobs and Social Equity in New York’s Cannabis Industry presented by Esta Bigler, Cornell ILR / Cannabis Workforce Initiative / @cornellilr

Watch this Solution presented by Esta Bigler. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 11.

10:45 am A Conversation with City Council Leaders
A fireside chat with City Council leaders about what the Council is doing to support New Yorkers and businesses in the economic recovery, job growth, and to access opportunity right now.

Watch the conversation with Council Members Gale Brewer and Amanda Farías.

11:15 am Remarks from Mayor Eric Adams

Watch the Mayor’s remarks.

11:35 am A Conversation with Labor Leaders
A discussion with labor leaders about unions’ plans for supporting workers in training and reskilling, how the community-based provider community can better connect their clients to apprenticeships, and how the workforce ecosystem can better collaborate with one another during this time of heightened need and historic sectoral changes.

Watch the Labor Leaders panel discussion.

12:00 pm Solution: Mapping the Skills of New Yorkers to Drive Place- and Industry-Based Development and Reskilling co-presented by Keri Faulhaber, JobsFirstNYC / @KFaulhaber @JobsFirstNYC and Alison Lands, SkyHive / @Alison_Lands @SkyHiveAI

Watch this Solution co-presented by Keri Faulhaber and Alison Lands. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 20.

Afternoon Agenda
The afternoon’s sessions will examine the landscape of workforce services and how organizations across the system are collaborating and developing functional and actionable programming for their clients to access careers in our 21st century economy.  Themes for the afternoon slate of programming include: program structures and funding, talent development, the great resignation, labor market needs, and the role of unions and organizing.

1:15 pm A Conversation with NYCETC’s Leadership
A fireside chat with NYCETC’s leadership about NYCETC’s vision and plans for the coming year of advocacy and programming.

Watch the conversation with NYCETC’s leadership.

1:35 pm Google NYC Tech Fund by Angela Pinsky, Google / @angelapinsky @google

Watch the Google NYC Tech Fund announcement.

1:40 pm Post-Pandemic Economy and Skills for 21st Century Economy
Discussion about labor market changes including the great resignation and a slow jobs recovery, the actions employers and providers are taking to better equip New Yorkers with 21st century economy skills, and unpacking what businesses and job seekers need to flourish in today’s economy.

Watch the Post-Pandemic Economy and Skills for 21st Century Economy panel.

2:10 pm Solution: Bridging the College-to-Career Gap through Mentorship and Foundational 21st Century Skills presented by Kilsys Payamps-Roure, Braven / @BeBraven

Watch this Solution presented by Kilsys Payamps-Roure. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 32.

2:20 pm Solution: The Emerging Leaders Program – Opening Doors to New Careers for People with Convictions presented by Ed Lucus, Center For Employment Opportunities (CEO) / @ceoworks

Watch this Solution presented by Ed Lucus. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 42.

2:30 pm Solution: Partnering for Impact – The Per Scholas Satellite Model presented by Bryan Lozano, Per Scholas / @PerScholas

Watch this Solution presented by Bryan Lozano. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 51.

2:40 pm Inclusive Growth: A Strategy for an Equitable Recovery 
Members of the New York City Inclusive Growth Initiative’s steering committee will discuss how housing and economic development weave together with workforce development and address growing sectors, such as green jobs and cannabis, and integrating local community needs, especially workforce into sector development.

Watch the Inclusive Growth: A Strategy for an Equitable Recovery panel.

3:00 pm Solution: Making Rezoning Work – Integrating Workforce Development into Land-Use Changes presented by Eli Dvorkin, Center for an Urban Future / @wetwax @nycfuture

Watch this Solution presented by Eli Dvorkin. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 60.

3:10 pm Solution: The Future is Cooperative co-presented by Rebecca Lurie, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies / @rebecca_lurie @CunySLU and Anh-Thu Nguyen, Democracy at Work Institute / @WeAreDAWI

Watch this Solution co-presented by Rebecca Lurie and Anh-Thu Nguyen. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 64.

3:20 pm New York City’s Workforce Landscape
An in-depth look at the New York City Workforce Landscape report released earlier this month by NYCETC, WPTI, and the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, takeaways from NYATEP’s Statewide Workforce Equity Analysis Tool to address the inequities that the workforce system internally perpetuates; and discussion with service providers on pandemic and post-pandemic challenges.

  • Lowell Herschberger, Cypress Hills Local Development Corp. / @CHLDC 
  • Kevin Tse, Chinese-American Planning Council / @cpc_nyc
  • L.K. Moe, Center for New York City Affairs at The New School / @CenterNYC
  • Evelyn Ortiz, NYATEP / @eiortiz @nyatep
  • Robert Taylor, Youth Action YouthBuild / @YAYouthBuild
  • Andrea Vaghy, Workforce Professionals Training Institute / @WPTIorg
  • Moderator: Ethan Geringer-Sameth, Gotham Gazette / @GeringerSameth @GothamGazette

Watch the panel discussion on New York City’s Workforce Landscape report. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this panel on page 80.

4:00 pm Solution: Building the Best Peer Workforce – Authentic Interviews for Individuals with Limited Work Histories presented by Curtis Dann-Messier, NYC Health + Hospitals / @NYCHealthSystem

Watch this Solution presented by Curtis Dann-Messier. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 85 and the program flyer. Know someone who would be a good fit for the H+H Peer Academy, sign-up to be notified when the application opens.

4:10pm Solution: Unlocking Employment Opportunities for Job Seekers Involved in the Legal System co-presented by Elena Sigman, John Jay College Institute for Justice & Opportunity / @JusticeAndOpp and Kiana Walbrook, Henry Street Settlement / @HenryStreet

Watch this Solution co-presented by Elena Sigman and Kiana Walbrook. Check out the Unlocking Employment course and the slide deck for this Solution on page 96.

4:20 pm Solution: Energy Transition Workforce Training Programs presented by Beth Offenbacker, NYS Energy Research & Development Authority / @NYSERDA

Watch this Solution presented by Beth Offenbacker. Check out additional resources and the slide deck for this Solution on page 102.

4:35 pm A Conversation with NYCETC’s Founders, Kathleen Masters and Virginia Cruickshank moderated by Valerie Payne, Rebuilding Together NYC / @vwestpayne

Watch the discussion with NYCETC’s Founders.