Pittsburgh’s 2014-2015 Coro Fellows in Public Affairs and Director of Training and Learning Development, Mary C. Parker (second from left), met with Governor Tom Wolf (D - center) during State Affairs Week.
Each year, Pittsburgh’s Coro Fellows visit our state capital, Harrisburg, PA, to learn more about the intersection of local and state-level concerns. They have the opportunity to meet with numerous stakeholders and decision-makers that provide them access and insight into policy-making. State Affairs Week 2015 was held from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20. During that time, Fellows split into working groups to focus on particular issues relevant to their goals and work. The economic and workforce development group, whose reflections are below, included:
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| Flavia Bleahu, Post Author | John Clinton McAuliff | Patrice McKenzie | Nenha Young |
During our State Affairs week we learned how public policy is created at the state level. We explored the realm of economic development and discovered its significance as a catalyst in policy-related issues, specifically job creation and access to training. To further understand economic development policies and initiatives in the state, we met with a wide range of individuals, including Governor Tom Wolf (D). All interviewees had extensive experience in these fields and bring different perspectives on both sides of the party line.
At the Benjamin Franklin Technology Partnerships Central & Northern Pennsylvania, John Sider, the Director of Second Stage Capital, informed us that technology-driven companies have bolstered the Pennsylvania economy. He emphasized that Pennsylvania’s transition and investment in technology has made it a leader in the sector. There has been a tremendous amount of job growth and creation in this sector and there’s a dire need to educate individuals to fill these opportunities.
In our meeting with Ryan Sanders (R), the African-American Inclusion Director of the Republican Party, he also mentioned the need for job training and workforce development. He is involved in a workforce development program with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to help these students be better equipped for the workforce upon graduation. He gave a new perspective to African-American economic empowerment in Pennsylvania and the United States. He is a strong believer that, with the access to proper training, self-sustainability will help people of color create their own wealth, become entrepreneurs, and excel in fields that lack minority presence.
We also met with David Patti, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Business Council. Having over two decades specializing in startups and turnarounds, Mr. Patti educated us on the status of the job market in Pennsylvania. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is expressed as the gross number of jobs created in the American economy in the previous month. Although Pennsylvania ranks last regards to this measure, its unemployment rate has remained consistent over the years - including during the time of the recession. This means that people have remained employed even though not as many new jobs have been created.
The topic of unqualified people to fill jobs was a concern that showed up across political lines. It was eye-opening to us that the concern for job creation is a pressing matter among everyone in Pennsylvania. From the influencers to the implementers, everyone wants to improve these numbers. Currently, Pennsylvania is ranked 50 out of 50 in job growth.
During our interview with Governor Tom Wolf (D), we asked what the advantages are for young professional to remain in Pennsylvania. The Governor reminded us that the city of Pittsburgh offers unique opportunities given its post-industrial era recovery. With a proposed budget that offers various job creation subsidies, Pennsylvania offers the incentive to bring about job growth and new opportunities for the future.
Editor’s Notes: This post has received edits from Outreach Manager, Sarah Miller. Any opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily the views held by the Coro Center for Civic Leadership (“Coro Pittsburgh”). However, we welcome our partners to share stories with – and through – us. If you are interested in making a blog post, please contact Outreach Manager Sarah Miller at smiller@coropittsburgh.org.