The Future Of Work

Industry never stops and it's up to education to stay one step ahead to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. How are programs created to educate the educators? NCCET or the National Council for Continuing Education and Training is dedicated to developing and recognizing innovative programming and professional development for continuing education. Ed Harper, the executive director of NCCET, c...

Everything rises and falls on leadership. But what are the mindset, intentions, and actions required to be a good leader, especially when failing up isn't an option? This is the position of many educators and administrators coming out of this pandemic. Dr. Rocky Cifone, Executive Coach at The John Maxwell Team, joins us today to discuss the philosophy behind good leadership. How do we assess our f...

The research shows that it is better to be rich in this country than to be smart. Education is intrinsically linked to economic independence and the requirement of secondary education to get a good job is all but required now. But those of lower economic status and opportunity are far less likely to receive that education, no matter how intelligent they are. Our infrastructure is failing. Our syst...

How do we equitably move students into fulfilling careers and engaging lives? Josh Wyner, the Vice President and Executive Director of the Aspen College Excellence Program, spends his days actively working towards that goal. His work revolves around advancing community colleges to best serve the students, provide accessibility, and align with industries. What distinguishes the colleges that are do...

Too many people are forced to decide between surviving and getting an education. Especially among the underrepresented student, first generation student, and minority student populations, the barriers to education are insurmountable. How do we start building systems and solutions that ensure access to economic advancement for all? Joel Vargas, Vice President of Programs at JFF (Jobs for the Future...

The Robert G. Freeman Center for Career and Completion at Pasadena City College is at the center of how the institution connects with employers. They are the hub which aligns employer demand with student interest. And that challenge is something that Jason Barquero, director of the Career Center, takes head on. As someone who came from the community colleges, Jason is passionate about embedding em...

Education is not just skill building. Some of the most important aspects of becoming a highly capable member of an incredibly competitive industry, comes from understanding oneself, finding a unique voice, and becoming adaptive to the constantly changing demands of the workforce. Lynora Rogacs, Dean of Visual Arts and Media Studies at Pasadena City College, is dedicated to building a curriculum th...

What is it like to use your skills to connect the dots between your work, your passion, and your community? Pam Sornson, former attorney, entrepreneur, and writer does that every day as she writes for the Pasadena City College Newsletter, The Pulse. She understands how to conduct research from a top down and bottom up approach that consolidates overarching and region specific goals. And she uses h...

Entertainment is one of the most coveted and competitive industries to break into. And community college students are at a plain disadvantage in comparison to private colleges with acclaimed entertainment programs. How do we even the playing field? Liesel Reinhart, Dean of Performing and Communication Arts at Pasadena City College, comes on to explain the ins and outs of giving students a competit...

In the constantly changing work landscape, what does it mean to be an entrepreneur? How does one go from artist to owner? Today, Christina Barsi, founder of Avant Haüs Media and producer of the Future of Work podcast, shares her entrepreneurial journey. Join us for a down to earth conversation on the everyday challenges entrepreneurs face and the skills needed to grow a sustainable business. Learn...

Diversity and Inclusion is integral to finding justice in our education, work, and lifestyle. And to create sustainable progress, the work needs to be internally driven and morally just. It is time for real advocacy and real action. Dr. Kari Bolen, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Pasadena City College, joins us today to speak about the challenges, realities, and solutions tow...

What is holding our students back from more jobs, internships, and climbing that ladder of socio-economic status? How do we all move forward, especially after this pandemic that has stalled or even halted thousands of students' education? Dr. Laura Ramirez, Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Instruction at Pasadena City College believes the answer is community. Today, Dr. Ramirez share...

Luke Meyer, the Director of Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research for the LA and Orange County regions, comes on the podcast today to discuss his work with bridging the gap between education and the workforce. He provides colleges with the essential labor market information that guides programs for students and partnerships for employers. He looks specifically at top demand middle skill a...

Jackie Javier, Manager of Work-Based Learning at Pasadena City College, returns to the podcast to share what she and her team has done to create opportunities during the pandemic. Summer is the most popular and often the only time a student has to get the all important internship. But this last summer, almost all internships shut down. Jackie and her team made the pivot and started working in over...

Who is the team behind this podcast? What are their goals and what does it take to get this work done? Join Salvatrice as she invites her own colleague, Leslie Thompson, Director of Economic and Workforce Development, to share her behind the scenes look into the work they do every day. Learn more about the customized approaches they are building to serve the community and the workforce training pr...

Carolyn Heinrich, Professor of Public Policy, Education and Economics at Vanderbilt University, joins us today to discuss the impact of her project, the Tennessee Postsecondary Evaluation and Analysis Research Lab (TN-PEARL). Research is imperative in measuring the needs and successes of public policy. Carolyn shares how her research has influenced Tennessee's education initiatives, made connectio...

When we talk about equity and how to achieve it, it's often discussed in a "how to put it into practice" sort of way. But what if we could track a student's equity journey even after they leave the college and enter the workforce? Our guest Tanysha Laney tracks data for student success at Pasadena City College and she tells us just how we can make this type of tracking possible as well as the many...

What if you could be the most productive you've ever been, working alongside friends, in a specially curated environment just for you? Well that is exactly what JJ Caffey, Co-founder and CEO of Order In, has set out to create. Her team at Order In has thrown out the 8 hours, thrown out the office, and rebuilt the workday around our greatest motivator: human connection. They have created a communit...

In honor of the holidays everyone at the Future of Work and Pasadena City College want to express how grateful we are for you. For being a dedicated listener and for those of you who have joined us as guests…a big thank you to you all because we could not have gotten through 2020 without you. We are your partner in finding solutions as we have more conversations with experts in the new year, start...

Our host Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Dr. Stephanie Cellini, professor at the George Washington University (virtually of course), to compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages between attending a private university or a community college as well as the impact community colleges like Pasadena City College have on their local economies. Engage with us: LinkedIn , Instagram & Facebook :...

Creating positive change, having an advocate spirit and wanting those who are underserved to have the focus they need to prosper…these are at the core of what motivates our guest, Caroline Torosis, the Director of Economic & Business Development at L.A County. She took her law degree and put it to use in the local government sector because she believe this is the level where we can have the most i...

Philip June is a highly accomplished engineer, leader, and mentor, who has spent the last 11 years at the Boeing Company. He is here today to share his story and what he has learned about success, teamwork, and the ongoing circle of learning. His insights bring us clarity on what the new workforce needs to thrive and what schools and companies must do to prepare them. That includes addressing equi...

If you happened to miss the amazing conference that Pasadena City College put on about the Future of Work on November 12th, 2020, then we have a treat for you. Josh Davies gave a stellar keynote presentation about what we can use from the lessons of this year, the challenges of 2020, and how we can use them to leverage our predictions in order to prepare and pivot for a more successful future of w...

The goal of the National Council for Workforce Education is to ensure access to education and training that prepares the workforce for attaining jobs, growing in them, and becoming future leaders. Join us as Darlene Miller, the Executive Director of this council, shares their efforts on supporting the large population of low skilled individuals and how to give them the technical, literacy, numerac...

There has never been a more important time to strive for equity in the workplace. How do we reevaluate privilege? And how do we redistribute benefits? When the pandemic is over, how do we restart the economy with everyone in mind? Dr. D'Artagnan Scorza, Executive Director and Founder of the Social Justice Learning Institute, asks us to consider what we value and how we can work towards eliminating...