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North State Together
19 Dec 2024
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California Underscores North State Together as Statewide Leader in Collective Impact and Cross-Sector Collaboration | |
| |  | This week marked a momentous occasion for the North State as Governor Gavin Newsom visited Shasta College to reveal the California Master Plan for Career Education, highlighting transformative initiatives that will drive education, workforce development, and economic growth for years to come. The event showcased two key programs: the Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program, led by North State Together, and the North State CA Jobs First Initiative, co-convened by the North State Planning and Development Collective and Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. Both programs underscore the region’s commitment to creating a sustainable and equitable future for our students, families, and workforce. Leaders from across the state, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Stewart Knox, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, and Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, among other statewide and regional leadership, joined Shasta College and Chico State leadership in a roundtable discussion centered around how these two critical regional programs can improve our local economy and create job opportunities for students and community members in the North State. [Group Pic above, photo source: Chico State Today]
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The California Master Plan for Career Education | |
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The California Master Plan for Career Education framework, announced this week by Governor Newsom, aims to unify existing efforts across education and workforce development while introducing innovative approaches to career readiness. The plan recommends creating a statewide planning body for career education, promoting a "career passport," strengthening workforce training, and ensuring affordability for both higher education and workforce training. With $100 million in state funds, the plan focuses on creating coherent, accessible pathways for all Californians, from K-12 students to working adults.
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Governor Newsom emphasized that the state’s vision relies on local communities and regional agencies, such as North State Together, to implement these strategies successfully. As one of 13 regional collaboratives funded by the state, North State Together plays a critical role in improving pathways between education and career opportunities in Northern California. The plan specifically highlights underserved populations, including disabled adults, justice-involved individuals, English learners, and first-generation students, as key beneficiaries of improved career education systems. | |
Key components of the plan include scaling up Credit for Prior Learning to award college credits for knowledge gained outside the classroom—a strategy that benefits veterans and non-veterans alike—and advancing the concept of a career passport. This passport would go beyond traditional grades on a transcript to include marketable skills and work experience gained through internships, apprenticeships, and other real-world learning opportunities. Improved data systems, such as California’s cradle-to-career system, will also play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless educational and career pathways. Newsom stressed the importance of creating a “no wrong door” approach, with multiple entry points to career education through cross-sector collaboration, community organizations, adult schools, libraries, and even justice system institutions. [Gov. Newsom at Podium, photo source: EdSource] | |
CA Jobs First: Building a Sustainable Regional Economy | |
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The North State Together K-16 Collaborative complements the CA Jobs First Initiative, a multi-million dollar state-funded effort launched in 2022 to develop the region’s comprehensive economic development strategy. Co-convened by the North State Planning and Development Collective and the Sierra Institute, the initiative focuses on diversifying the economy and building sustainable industries in natural resources, agriculture, tourism, and healthcare, among others.
North State Together is proud to collaborate with the Collective on this work, which has brought communities together to identify key investments and actionable strategies that address economic recovery, equity, and workforce development. As Governor Newsom noted during the event, the CA Jobs First initiative exemplifies the state’s vision realized locally—a bottom-up approach that prioritizes regional needs and builds long-term economic resilience. [Photo Above: Courtney Farrell, Project Manager at NSPDC, presenting Governor Gavin Newsom with the CA Jobs First North State Regional Plan]
| A Collaborative Future for the North State | |
North State Together remains committed to supporting the front-line work of our county networks as they implement strategies that make a real difference for students and families. Fostering cross-sector, collective impact among leaders, stakeholders, and community members throughout our region, our shared vision remains clear: a thriving North State built on the educational success of every child from cradle to career.
[Photo Above: Billy Miller, Dean of Extended Education and North State Together]
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As we move forward, North State Together will continue to support the implementation of both the K-16 Collaborative and CA Jobs First initiatives, ensuring our region remains a model of collaboration, innovation, and opportunity. | |
These investments are more than programs; they are a blueprint for sustainable success for our communities, economy, and students for generations to come. | |
[Photo Above: Billy Miller, Dean of Extended Education and North State Together; Michael Wiafe, Assistant Deputy Cabinet Secretary at the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom; Kevin O’Rorke, Associate Superintendent/CEO of North State Together] | |
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North State Together
Downtown Redding
Community Leadership Center
1401 California Street, 4th floor
Redding, CA 96001
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CONNECT ** COLLABORATE ** CONTRIBUTE | | |
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OUR VISION
A thriving North State built on the educational success of every child from cradle to career.
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OUR MISSION
To increase community vitality by increasing educational access and success in the North State through local solutions within a regional support framework.
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OUR VALUES
We are community, data, equity, and relationship driven.
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