The Rise of Coronavirus Heroes

As published in the Las Cruces Sun-News – April 6, 2020 by Tracey Bryan There are heroes all over our community. In the midst of this present COVID-19 crisis, we see it in living color. Thousands of children have food on the table, thanks to the tireless efforts of cafeteria workers, teachers, and our school […]

Our People Are the Greatest Assets We Have

As published in the Las Cruces Bulletin – March 20, 2020 by Tracey Bryan When we developed the website, NewMexicoTrueTalent.org, it was an intentional strategy to build awareness of the incredible opportunities that our community has to offer to the greatest assets we have…our people. We wanted our people to know what’s possible, what’s real, […]

Connecting Education, Employment, and Economic Development

Originally published in the Las Cruces Bulletin on Friday, February 21, 2019 A wave of change is taking place in New Mexico. This one actually begins after the legislative session.  In regions across our state, business community members and economic developers are going to come alongside educators and other local stakeholders to discuss how to use investments […]

US Chamber Invests in Our Community’s Work

Originally published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Monday, February 3, 2020 Talent drives economic prosperity.   Talent (in the form of a well-skilled person) is built through education and training. Talent then becomes the greatest asset of any business or public sector employer. Talent, employed in local industries vital to the economy, renders life-long financial […]

Recent Reports Confirm “Why” We’re Right

Originally published in the Las Cruces Bulletin on Friday, January 17, 2020 I am constantly reading reports – national, state, and local best practices, case studies, and recommendations on interventions and approaches relative to workforce development. Many of these reports inform our work. Others confirm it. We know that effective workforce development in Doña Ana […]

Generating the Greatest Impact with the Money We Do Have

Originally published in the Las Cruces Bulletin on Friday, December 20, 2019 “We don’t have enough money to do _________________.” That seems to be a foundational premise when thinking about how to improve outcomes for our children, our families, our community, and our state.  I don’t disagree that, in many cases, it is true. However, […]

What Should an “Ecosystem of Opportunity” Look Like?

Originally published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Monday, December 2, 2019 When it comes to workforce, an “ecosystem of opportunity” exists when supply meets demand. Supply of people with the right knowledge, skills, and abilities ready to step into the growing set of technical-, middle-, and high-skilled careers that employers in our community have […]

George Ruth Proves the Power of Business-Education Collaboration

Originally published in the Las Cruces Bulletin on Friday, November 15, 2019 “Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the […]

Close It Summit Promotes New Approaches to Closing Workforce Gaps

Originally published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Monday, November 4, 2019 Closing the gaps between people and careers, educators and employers, adult workers and college credentials, high school students and career preparation, and children of color and 21st Century careers were all addressed at the Close It Summit, hosted by New Mexico-based Innovate+Educate. National leaders […]

Debating the idea of “Free College”

Originally published in the Las Cruces Bulletin on Friday, October 18, 2019 When Governor Lujan-Grisham announced her Opportunity Scholarship proposal to help more New Mexicans complete college, it sparked dialogue not just in New Mexico, but across the country. Currently 24 states offer some variation of “free college” in different forms, most focusing on two-year […]