Making The Case For ‘Workforce Development’

Is it possible to establish a link between the U.S. civil rights movement and the fall of the Berlin Wall?

You can, as it turns out, when it comes to job training and career readiness. The video above traces that history, and brings into focus the nebulous term “workforce development.”

This introductory piece kicks off a six-part video series that will examine career and tech education in the Kansas City region.

One of the key themes will be the push and pull between making schools mere conduits for employers versus institutions that turn out solid, informed citizens. Or, can they be both?

—Kansas City PBS is examining the issue of workforce development as part of its participation in the national American Graduate: Getting to Work project, an initiative made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Follow #AmGradKCPT on Facebook and Twitter for local American Graduate content and #AmGrad to see content from across the United States.

This video post has been updated to reflect the correct first name of Josh Hawley. He was previously incorrectly identified as Jacob.