People have been asking my thoughts on the election. Some have wondered why I didn’t release some sort of statement right away. But the truth is, like many people, I needed a minute to process my thoughts. Big change is once again on the way. That’s true whenever a new administration sweeps into power. What matters most about the outcome of the federal election for my work is what it can tell us about the needs of American workers.
It’s clear that the results of this election were fueled in part by people’s economic anxiety, and if nothing else, it shone a spotlight for me on why the National Fund’s work is more important than ever. Our work is about shifting inequitable systems that have held hard-working people back for far too long. We support solutions that boost economic strength for everyone. We need to accelerate a shift toward an equitable future — all gas, no brakes.
It’s understandable that most are tempted to turn to Washington for answers to address the big challenges and seek big investments to move the needle. But here’s the thing, while people are facing challenges that are universal, the solutions don’t all come from Washington. The best solutions often spring up from seeds that are planted in local communities. Job opportunities, employers’ talent needs, education and training systems, and access to resources are grounded in local communities.
That’s why the work of the National Fund is rooted in more than 30 communities around the country where our network partners see issues through their local lens. These local efforts are what drive collective impact as we address systemic barriers to work, transform career navigation systems, and activate industry leaders to improve job quality.
As we look ahead toward 2025 and beyond, I’m excited for what’s in store as the National Fund team continues doing critical work alongside our network partners. In Cleveland, Baltimore, Des Moines, and Pittsburgh, our initiative focused on shifting the childcare industry is ramping up, and we recently launched a community of practice dedicated to building diverse talent pipelines into clean energy and infrastructure jobs.
Even while the headwinds continue to blow, our commitment to advancing racial equity in the workforce remains steadfast. Until all workers have what they need to thrive, race does not dictate career success, and every job is a good job, we’ll keep our foot on the gas.
