Findings from a new survey from Gallup and the Carnegie Corporation of New York indicate strong agreement that Americans are at risk and we need to help each other, and we can "by providing millions of people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic with a combination of paid work and training opportunities over the next few years."

Support appears to go beyond the crisis at hand; Americans appear to favor finding creative solutions to long-term challenges, like helping workers become better prepared to meet current labor market needs. UpSkill Houston and its partners are currently working to help employers and their talent acquisition teams address skills gaps by building talent pipelines and to partner with community colleges and United Way of Greater Houston THRIVE community partners in working with individuals to upskill themselves into new roles.

The survey results provide insights into solutions that could help Americans emerge from the pandemic as a stronger society and have powerful implications for local and national recovery efforts and long-term workforce development plans.

Read more from the Houston Report blog.

Dr. Brenda Hellyer, chancellor of San Jacinto College and chair of TACC's executive committee, shared with UpSkill Houston what employers and jobseekers need to know about the initiative and how it can help residents prepare for returning to work. Hellyer is also a member of UpSkill Houston's executive committee.

Read the Q&A with Hellyer on the Houston Report blog.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) have launched a new statewide effort to develop a shared workforce development strategy. The initiative will help local communities address workforce needs and support lasting economic success across the state, according to TWC Chair Bryan Daniel.

The initiative was born out of work by the state’s Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative and will identify existing strategies and partners and lay the foundation for future planning and establish a definition for workforce success.

This spring, it will hold a series of webinars that highlight local efforts and winning strategies that can be leveraged statewide.

Learn more from the TWC; sign up for initiative updates.

Broadband connectivity has quickly become a top policy priority for communities across Texas and for lawmakers in the 87th Legislative Session, according to Partnership Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Lindsay Munoz and Public Policy Director Ben Melson.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious connectivity problems communities and millions of Texans had faced for years: gaps were quickly identified when schools moved from in-person learning to online learning, but connectivity affects more than just education; it is an economic issue and a health issue. Roughly 3 million Texas households either lack broadband internet access or cannot afford it; these households are overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged and in rural areas.

State Rep. Trent Ashby and State Sen. Robert Nichols are working on legislation that would establish a broadband office that would create a plan to provide broadband access to all Texans, along with provisions for data collection and mapping. Other legislators involved with the effort include Houston-based State Rep. Armando Walle, and there appears to be broad support from lawmakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle, according to Munoz and Melson. Last year, the Partnership, Texas 2036 and Texas Rural Funders created the Digital Texas coalition to ensure all Texans have equitable access to reliable and affordable digital connectivity.

Follow news about the 87th Legislative Session from the Partnership’s Public Policy team.

UpSkill Houston has launched a newsletter of tailored information to support the work of educators and career counselors and coaches to help students and adults navigate the good careers that increase their economic opportunity and prosperity.

The email, called Coach Connect, features insights into the skills employers need their workforce to have and shares employment insights for specific industries. It also spotlights resources and tools that educators and coaches can share with students or clients and their families. Coach Connect is produced six times a year, each edition featuring a different industry. It is part of our work to drive effective career guidance.

The March/April newsletter will focus on health care.

See the January/February edition here, and subscribe to receive it here.

Houston Community College has created an easy-to-use, one-stop portal where individuals can apply for fully funded short-term training programs for high-demand occupations. The site lists all funded programs, regardless of their funding source, meaning individuals can select programs and apply without having to visit multiple sites tied to different funds. Programs range from construction trades (pipefitting, plumbing and welding) to IT, networking and cybersecurity to commercial truck driving and logistics.

Visit the Fast-Track Training portal.

SERJobs provides education, occupational skills training, financial literacy, and employment assistance to individuals from low-income backgrounds or who have barriers to employment —at no cost to participants. It is one of United Way of Greater Houston's more than 20 THRIVE partners that work collaboratively to provide families with comprehensive resources, wraparound support, and services they need to reach real and lasting financial independence.

Read more about the investment.