ACT celebrates Workforce Development Month with a powerful keynote from LaShana Lewis—technologist, advocate, and Chair of Opportunity@Work’s Stars Advisory Council. Recorded live at ACT’s Atlanta Summit, LaShana shares her personal journey and the systemic barriers faced by STARs—those Skilled Through Alternative Routes. Her story highlights the urgent need for inclusive, skills-based hiring and the role of ACT’s Work Ready Communities in building skills-driven pathways.

• Connect with LaShana Lewis
• More STARs Stories with Opportunity@Work
• Rural STARs Joint Research Partnership with ACT and Opportunity@Work
• Webinar from ACT’s Center for Impact in Learning featuring LaShana Lewis
• The Next ACT Summit at Nashville

• Workforce Development Month Resources from NAWDP

Episode 61 features Isaac Agbeshie-Noye from the SHRM Foundation, who discusses the Skills First Future initiative and its role in helping employers adopt skills-drivenpractices and expand nationwide opportunities through Learning and Employment Records (LERs). The conversation explores common myths surrounding skills-firsthiring, the challenges employers encounter, and strategies to overcome them.

Isaac highlights key tools available at SkillsFirstFuture.org, including the Skills Action Planner and SHRM’s new specialty credential. The episode provides practical insights for HR professionals and their collaborations with educators and workforce leaders aiming to build a high-performing talent ecosystem. Listeners will discover how small adjustments can lead to significant outcomes and why the shift toward skills-first hiring is gaining momentum across various industries.

Voices of Excellence:

Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, Program Director

SHRM Foundation

Widening Pathways to Work

Issac on Linked In

Resources from Episode 61

• Show Notes and Transcript for Episode 61
• Skills First Future Resources from SHRM
• ACT Workforce Solutions
• ACT Work Ready Communities
  

From the stage of ACT’s Workforce Summit in Atlanta, episode 60 brings humor, insight, and real-world wisdom on AI’s role in workforce development. Host Jasen Jones is joined by tech experts DJ Burrel, Joshua Cox and Davin Jackson to explore how AI is transforming cybersecurity, government, and education. From ethical hacking to gaming as a gateway to tech careers, the panel breaks down complex topics in a way “the goats can get.” If you’re tech-savvy or just curious, this episode offers practical takeaways and inspiration for navigating the future of work with AI.

Voices of Excellence on Episode 60

• DJ Burel, Manager of Talent Acquisition, Pure Recruiting Agency
• Joshua Cox, I.T. Director, City of Forest Park, GA
• Davin Jackson, Founder and CEO, Alpha Esports and Technology/Cybersecurity

Links and Resources

• Transcript for Episode 60
• ACT Work Ready Communities
• ACT Workforce Solutions
• WorkKeys Career Readiness Dashboard
• WorkKeys Benchmarks - Information Systems