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The Future of Workforce Development: Challenges and Opportunities

SpeakerS:

Dr. Yvonne Thompson, Founder President, Wintrade Global Women In Business Network
Jorge Mariano Aguado, CEO and co-founder, The Future Co.
The Hon. Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor, NYC Housing, Economic Development and Workforce
The Hon. Sara Minkara, U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State

“When you break down barriers and you actually include people with disabilities, it brings value, helps the GDP. It's a cost to society when you don't include us.” The Hon. Sara Minkara
“I'm the daughter of first-generation immigrants to this city, and what I like to believe is that in the day-to-day work that we do in city government, it's really that lived experience, that set of struggles, that allows me to be not just a decent policymaker but the type of change-maker that hopefully tries to uplift the lives of every single New Yorker across the five boroughs.” Maria Torres-Springer
“I try to be a good person, a good husband, a good father, and hopefully trying to have my life working for the rest of the world.” Jorge Mariano Aguado

Key takeaways:

  • Inclusion of people with disabilities: Integrating individuals with disabilities into economic policies is crucial for development, as current policies often overlook 1.3 billion people, leading to societal and economic losses. 
  • Cross-Sector collaboration for socioeconomic development: Achieving long-term socioeconomic development requires collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society. Initiatives like “Women Forward NYC”, through 40 programs and substantial funding, showcase how partnerships can advance gender equality and economic mobility. 
  • Community-based approach in addressing rural poverty: Traditional top-down approaches have failed to significantly reduce poverty in rural areas, which still account for 80% of those in poverty globally. 
  • Addressing inequities in urban development: Efforts are underway to dismantle discriminatory zoning practices and improve housing equity in cities like New York, addressing workforce opportunities and housing together for comprehensive urban development. 
  • Recognizing multiple identities in leadership roles: Acknowledging diverse identities, including gender, disability, and immigrant status, enhances policymaking and advocacy, leading to more inclusive and representative policies. 

Action items:

  • Integrate disability inclusion: Policymakers should mainstream disability considerations into areas such as digital economic agreements, AI development, and climate transitions, fostering collaborative efforts with people with disabilities. 
  • Cross-sector partnerships for women’s economic empowerment: Governments should continue to collaborate with the private sector and non-profits to develop initiatives that promote women’s economic mobility, health, and public safety, ensuring dedicated resources and programs are in place. 
  • Implement community-centric development: Develop and adopt community-based approaches that engage local populations in the co-creation of solutions, addressing poverty in a multidimensional way and ensuring sustainability and ownership of development projects. 
  • Address systemic barriers in urban planning and housing: Initiate and support policies that reverse discriminatory practices in zoning and housing to promote equitable urban development, thereby enhancing workforce opportunities and combating socioeconomic disparities. 
  • Promote inclusive leadership and representation: Encourage and support leaders from diverse backgrounds by recognizing the value of their lived experiences in policymaking and fostering environments that support multifaceted identities. 

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