Bridgeport Regional Business Council and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation present: Workforce Development Conversations – Career Pathways

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF), with support from Bank of America, will be cohosting the virtual series “Breaking Down Connecticut’s Workforce Development Challenges & Opportunities”, kicking off Thursday, April 8 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. The first event will focus on Career Pathways and feature keynote speaker Kelli-Marie Vallieres, Executive Director of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Workforce Strategy and Vice President of the Governor’s Workforce Council. A panel discussion will follow with representatives from Career Resources, Connecticut Department of Labor, Housatonic Community College, and The WorkPlace. This event is free, open to the public, and will contain a question and answer portion. Attendees can preregister online at BRBC.org

“When individuals have access to the right tools and resources for advancing economic mobility, our communities are even better suited for responsible, sustainable growth,” said Bill Tommins, President of Bank America Southern Connecticut. “In the past year, workforce development programs and partnerships have been vital in supporting residents disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. Bank of America’s collaboration with longstanding partners Bridgeport Regional Business Council and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation will help drive work aligned to local employer hiring needs and put our residents on a path to economic success.”

This series intends to dig into the themes of how the changing workforce impacts our economic future and quality of life, the role equity and equality play in access to opportunities, and how our region’s employees, employers,  state, and local agencies are responding. Additional conversations are scheduled for May and June and will focus on the topics of Education and the Talent Pipeline in grades K-12 and Industry Impact, respectfully.

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About Bridgeport Regional Business Council

The Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) is a voluntary membership association of businesses within the Bridgeport region working together to create an environment for business expansion, retention, and recruitment that results in jobs and tax base growth. The BRBC achieves its mission in concert with its three affiliate Chambers of Commerce (Bridgeport, Stratford, and Trumbull), three affiliate Leadership Programs (Leadership Greater Bridgeport, Thrive Emerging Leaders, and Women’s Leadership Network), and a corporate affiliate (Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation). Learn more at BRBC.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $337.5 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond since 1992. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, the organization brings together community organizers, business experts, and philanthropists to close the opportunity gap in Fairfield County with a focus on eliminating disparities in education, employment, housing, and health. Our goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at FCCFoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Listen to the Fairfield County Thrives podcast at FCCFoundation.org/podcasts