NAWDP - National Association of Workforce Development Professionals

08/28/2026

What does it take to build a strong foundation in workforce development?

We are starting there on Day 1 of the Foundations of Workforce Development Virtual Academy.

On October 6, participants will explore Excellence as the Standard, Understanding Workforce Programs and Legislation, and Building Community Partnerships and Outreach.

These sessions set the stage for three days of learning designed to help workforce professionals better understand the workforce system, strengthen partnerships, use labor market information, navigate emerging trends, and more effectively measure and communicate their impact.

Join us virtually October 6-8 and strengthen the foundation that supports the work you do every day.

Register today: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/virtual-academy/

08/27/2026

Training can create opportunity, but helping someone build a lasting career often requires more.

In the latest episode of Workforce on the Mic, presented by NAWDP, Alexis Franks talks with Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, about addressing healthcare staffing shortages by creating accessible, debt-free pathways into healthcare careers.

The conversation looks at how training can be strengthened by whole-person case management, transportation assistance, wraparound services, and ongoing encouragement that helps participants overcome barriers, succeed in the workplace, and advance toward higher-paying careers.

It is a powerful example of how workforce development can create opportunities for individuals while responding to the talent needs of an essential industry.

Listen to the episode: https://www.nawdp.org/news/ep27-building-debt-free-pathways-into-healthcare-careers/

Share this episode with a workforce professional working to strengthen career pathways in their community.

08/26/2026

Last chance to apply! If you are in your first few years of workforce development and looking for opportunities to grow your skills, build your network, and learn from others in the field, the 2027 NAWDP New Professionals Cohort in Workforce Development was created for you.

Over 12 months, you will connect with workforce professionals from across the country, participate in professional development and mentorship opportunities, strengthen your skills, and complete a capstone project with real-world impact.

Your first few years in workforce development can shape where your career goes next. Build the connections, knowledge, and experience to help you move forward with purpose.
The application period closes August 31. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the 2027 cohort.

Learn more and apply: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/new-professionals-cohort-in-workforce-development/

08/25/2026

How can workforce professionals help clients recognize and navigate unconscious bias during their career journeys?

Join us for Summer Learning Series Session 4: Helping Clients Overcome Unconscious Bias on September 15 from 1:00–2:30 PM CDT.

During this interactive session, participants will:
• Examine how unconscious bias affects career development and hiring practices
• Identify barriers in hiring and employment systems
• Learn culturally responsive coaching strategies
• Explore practical approaches to supporting clients throughout the job search process

Designed for workforce professionals, career coaches, counselors, and employment specialists, this session offers actionable tools to better serve diverse job seeker populations.

Register today: https://www.nawdp.org/event/summer-learning-series-session-4-helping-clients-overcome-unconscious-bias/

08/24/2026

Could apprenticeship help strengthen the care economy workforce in your community?

FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning (IWL) is seeking organizations interested in recruiting, training, and upskilling current or new employees through apprenticeship programs.

Opportunities include Community Health Workers, Peer Support Specialists, Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Counselors, and Youth Development Practitioners.

For workforce boards, employers, education partners, community organizations, and industry groups, this is an opportunity to explore apprenticeship as a strategy for building stronger talent pipelines and creating new pathways into essential careers.

Learn more about the programs and share your interest: https://iwl.fhi360.org/interested-in-apprenticeships/



NAWDP is a contributing partner of the Institute for Work and Learning (IWL).

Thank you for your interest in FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning (IWL) apprenticeship programs. We are seeking organizations interested in recruiting, training, and upskilling current or new employees in the care economy including Community Health Workers (CHW), Peer Support Specialists (P...

08/20/2026

The momentum continued in Las Vegas after the 2026 NAWDP Business Services Academy! The NAWDP Board of Directors came together following the Academy for a meeting focused on strengthening our organization and advancing the work ahead.

Board members participated in exercises supporting the Certified Workforce Development Professional® (CWDP) credential, heard from Bridget Back of EKCEP about ways workforce organizations can use artificial intelligence, and discussed strategic initiatives that will help guide NAWDP’s continued growth and impact.

The meeting also gave us an opportunity to recognize the winners of the 2026 Board Brawl. Congratulations to Tami Grant, Colorado State Director, and Kelly Folks, Region 4 Director! The friendly competition challenged Board members to help grow NAWDP membership throughout June and expand our community of workforce professionals.

Thank you to our entire Board of Directors for your leadership, service, and continued commitment to NAWDP and the workforce development profession.

Learn more about NAWDP at www.nawdp.org.

08/19/2026

What a week in Las Vegas!

The 2026 NAWDP Business Services Academy has officially come to a close after three days of learning, collaboration, new connections, and conversations about how we can better serve businesses and strengthen our workforce systems.

Thank you to every attendee, speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, and partner who brought their expertise, questions, ideas, and energy to .

Now it’s time to take what we learned back home. Share it with your teams. Strengthen your partnerships. Try something new. And keep the conversations started here going.

Thank you for making the 2026 Business Services Academy one to remember. Save the date for the 2027 NAWDP Business Services Academy at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in St. Louis, MO on August 9-11, 2027.

08/19/2026

Only one week remains until NAWDP's 30 Minutes of Excellence: Ready, Set, Celebrate: Workforce Development Month.

September is Workforce Development Month, and this session will provide practical, easy-to-implement ideas to help your organization celebrate its impact, engage stakeholders, recognize staff, and raise awareness in your community.

You'll also have the opportunity to connect with workforce professionals from across the country and exchange ideas for a successful Workforce Development Month.

📅 August 26, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM CDT

Register today:
https://www.nawdp.org/event/30-minutes-of-excellence-august-ready-set-celebrate-workforce-development-month/

08/19/2026

Are you new to workforce development or looking to strengthen your knowledge of the field? Registration is now open for NAWDP's Foundations of Workforce Development Virtual Academy on October 6-8.

This three-day academy will help workforce professionals build a stronger understanding of the workforce system and develop practical knowledge they can apply in their day-to-day work.

Facilitators Kim Meadows and Alexis Franks will guide participants through topics including workforce programs and legislation, partnerships, labor market information, emerging trends, and strategies for measuring and communicating impact.

If you know someone who is starting their workforce development career, share this opportunity with them.

Learn more and register: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/virtual-academy/

08/18/2026

We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2026 NAWDP Business Services Academy in Las Vegas, but there is still plenty ahead!

So far, attendees have heard directly from employers, explored ideas and strategies through breakout sessions, connected with exhibitors, expanded their networks, and learned from workforce professionals from across the country.

Take a look at some of the learning, conversations, and connections that have filled so far.

Next up: more opportunities to learn and connect as we make our way toward our closing session.

If you’re here with us, we want to hear from you: What has been your biggest takeaway so far?

If you’re following from home, stay tuned for more from Las Vegas and watch for upcoming NAWDP events and learning opportunities. We hope you’ll be part of the experience next time.

Mark your calendars for the 2027 NAWDP Business Services Academy in St. Louis, MO on August 9-11, 2027.