Community Engagement

Overview

Today’s workforce development practice involves multi-faceted strategies that connect employers with community partners including educators, community-based organizations, labor, workforce systems, economic development offices, and policymakers. While that work is executed in communities, it is often supported by partnerships, ideas, and collaboration that begin at a national level, greasing the wheels of opportunity in local regions. CEWD takes great pride in being that national leadership catalyst.

We know workforce development has to be done differently today. Bolder. More aggressively. With new partners and new ways of thinking.

Energy employers, CEWD welcomes the chance to be your partner – connecting you with people, organizations, and information that can impact your talent pipeline development. We recognize a rising tide will lift all boats. Let us know how we can help.

National non-profits and community-based organizations, educators, and workforce systems, you are critical in CEWD’s people-readiness journey. Please reach out for information and collaboration. (Local CBOs are encouraged to contact energy employers in their communities directly.)

Our Community Engagement page also includes materials to help “activate” the energy industry’s involvement with education. We’ve created personalized guides and resources for organizations in support of Energy & Natural Resources (ENR) Career and Technical Education (CTE), divided into three main sections that we encourage you to explore and use as inspiration:

Engage with Academia

Familiarize your organization with common and impactful ways that others engage with CTE programming and academia. We lay out the benefits, examples of how it’s done today, and guidance on how to get started.

Skill your Future Workforce

Organizations in the energy industry look to hire skilled talent. Read through why creating early exposure and work opportunities will help bridge the talent gap and strengthen your future workforce.

Advocate for ENR Adoption

Although ENR was an important addition in the modernized CTE Career Cluster Framework, states are still in the process of formally adopting the new ENR Career Cluster. Organizations in the energy industry are key stakeholders whose advocacy will encourage cluster adoption and help inform the new curriculum that will be needed. Get acquainted with the cluster adoption process and see how your organization can provide meaningful support.