Pitt's Institute of Politics to Cosponsor Forum on Workforce Development Jan. 24

January 15, 2003

PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics and the Southwest Pennsylvania Career Development Program Network (CDPN) are sponsoring a forum for community-based organizations to examine the roles they play in meeting the region's workforce development challenges from 8 to 11 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Concordia Club, 4024 O'Hara St., Oakland.

A panel of regional experts will provide an overview of the region's workforce development strategies and offer an update of regional initiatives and activities, including the Institute of Politics' Human Capital Policy Initiative and the progress of industry clusters organized around such strategic growth sectors as financial services, information technology, and advance manufacturing.

Panelists will include Stephen M. Mitchell, director, Workforce Connections, Pennsylvania Economy League; Anne McCafferty, director, Human Capital Policy Initiative, University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics; Ronald Painter, director, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board; William Thompson, director, Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board; Vanessa Lund, senior policy analyst, Workforce Connections, Pennsylvania Economy League; William Freed, president, FREEdLANCE Group, a corporation focused on career and workforce development; and Alyson Getty Cole, The Hill Group, a management consulting firm.

"Community organizations have long served as vital connectors between people and jobs," said McCafferty. "Their hard work has developed into a noteworthy employment and training delivery system. Forums like this one contribute to the demand for service excellence and coordination with larger regional efforts. Highly skilled and well-informed workforce development professionals are key players in this region's development strategy."

Forum participants will engage in networking activities to build stronger relationships and foster coordination and collaboration among organizations. Opportunities also will be presented for community and faith-based organizations to become more involved in addressing workforce development issues.

The Southwest Pennsylvania CDPN membership includes nonprofit organizations that operate career development programs. The network provides training, professional development, and capacity building to workforce development professionals and organizations.

Admission to the forum is $10 for CDPN members, $20 for all others. Preregistration is required. To preregister or for more information, call Vanessa Lund at 412-471-1477.

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