NAWDP - National Association of Workforce Development Professionals

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NAWDP - National Association of Workforce Development Professionals NAWDP provides the professional development, resources, and certification credibility to individuals

Ja'Queta Gatling is NAWDP's October Member Spotlight! As Director of Workforce Development at Roanoke Chowan Community H...
10/13/2026

Ja'Queta Gatling is NAWDP's October Member Spotlight! As Director of Workforce Development at Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, Gatling leads workforce initiatives designed to strengthen healthcare career pathways throughout rural northeastern North Carolina. Gatling works to connect students, employees, and community members with meaningful opportunities to learn, earn credentials, gain hands-on experience, and advance in healthcare careers.

NAWDP members can read more about J'Queta Gatling in the members-only NAWDP Advantage newsletter. Not a member? Join NAWDP today at https://www.nawdp.org/membership/member-types/ to get it automatically delivered to your inbox!

Thank you to Home Builders Institute (HBI) for supporting the 27th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium as a Platinum Sponsor!Sp...
10/13/2026

Thank you to Home Builders Institute (HBI) for supporting the 27th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium as a Platinum Sponsor!

Sponsor support helps NAWDP bring together youth workforce development professionals from across the country to exchange ideas, strengthen programs, build connections, and discover new ways to help young people succeed.

We appreciate HBI’s investment in this important learning experience and in the professionals working every day to expand opportunities for youth.

Join us November 16–18 in San Antonio, TX.

Register today: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/youth-symposium/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_id=ys2026_registration

Strong leadership is not only about what you know. It’s about how you communicate, collaborate, listen, adapt, and help ...
10/13/2026

Strong leadership is not only about what you know. It’s about how you communicate, collaborate, listen, adapt, and help others grow.

Dana Sheldon of Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation experienced that growth through the NAWDP Leadership Academy:

“The Academy has made me a stronger leader by helping me become more intentional in how I communicate, collaborate, and support my team. It strengthened my ability to listen to different perspectives, adapt to changing workforce needs, and bring partners together around shared goals. I now approach leadership with greater confidence, self-awareness, and a stronger commitment to developing others.”

What could a year focused on your own leadership development mean for you and your team?

Applications are open for the 2027–28 NAWDP Leadership Academy cohort.

Learn more and apply: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/leadership-academy/

Know a workforce professional who is ready for their next step in leadership? Share this opportunity with them.

NAWDP's offices are closed in observance of the October 12 holiday. Our offices will resume normal operating hours on Oc...
10/12/2026

NAWDP's offices are closed in observance of the October 12 holiday. Our offices will resume normal operating hours on October 13.

While we are out, you can find details of events and training, certification, and membership at www.nawdp.org.

Preparing for changes in federal funding requirements starts with understanding what's ahead!NAWDP CEO Melissa Robbins j...
10/09/2026

Preparing for changes in federal funding requirements starts with understanding what's ahead!

NAWDP CEO Melissa Robbins joined workforce professionals as a speaker at "Federal Funds Under Pressure: Navigating the Compliance Environment," hosted by Midwest Urban Strategies.

This intensive learning event focused on anticipated Uniform Guidance updates and practical strategies organizations can use to strengthen compliance, improve internal systems, and prepare for future funding opportunities.

Thank you to Midwest Urban Strategies for hosting this valuable learning opportunity and bringing workforce professionals together to navigate an evolving compliance environment.

10/08/2026

What if work-based learning opportunities in your community worked together as a system instead of operating in silos?

At the 27th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium, Barbara Blake of Old Dominion University will present "From Silos to Systems: Building a 100% WBL Ecosystem".

This interactive session will introduce the MISSION Framework and show how a coordinated approach can help expand access to internships, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, service learning, research, and other meaningful experiences for young people.

Watch the video to learn more about the session, then join us November 16–18 in San Antonio to explore practical tools and strategies you can take back to your organization and community.

Register today for the 27th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium: https://www.nawdp.org/events-training/youth-symposium/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_id=ys2026_registration

What tools can help workforce professionals create more inclusive employment opportunities?Join NAWDP on October 28 for ...
10/07/2026

What tools can help workforce professionals create more inclusive employment opportunities?

Join NAWDP on October 28 for October POWER HOUR, recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Presenter Shammi Carr, Disability Advocate and Consultant, will explore disability awareness, local and national resources, and key disability employment policies. Attendees will gain practical tools and perspectives they can apply in their work, with dedicated time for questions and discussion.

Everyone who attends will also receive “Celebrating Value and Talent” posters to display throughout the year and help keep the message of inclusion visible.

October 28 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. CDT

Register today, and share this opportunity with colleagues who are working to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities: https://www.nawdp.org/event/october-power-hour/

NAWDP is in Springfield, Illinois, supporting the Illinois Workforce Association’s inaugural conference!Director of Memb...
10/06/2026

NAWDP is in Springfield, Illinois, supporting the Illinois Workforce Association’s inaugural conference!

Director of Membership Alexis Franks is connecting with workforce professionals alongside NAWDP Board members Claudia Regalado, Illinois Representative; Shannon Johnson, Region 5 Representative; and Dana Keller, Missouri Representative.

We are proud to support this new opportunity for workforce professionals to exchange ideas, build relationships, and strengthen the workforce development community.

Congratulations to the Illinois Workforce Association on its inaugural conference!

A workforce service can be available and still be difficult to access.In this latest member-submitted blog, RW Jones int...
10/06/2026

A workforce service can be available and still be difficult to access.

In this latest member-submitted blog, RW Jones introduces “The 45-Minute Problem,” starting with a scenario familiar to many rural communities: a young person needs workforce services but has no car and lives 45 minutes from the nearest physical point of entry.

Virtual services can help, but physical distance is only part of the challenge.

Do people know the opportunity exists? Can they figure out where to start? Once they are interested, can they successfully navigate the steps from awareness to enrollment?

These physical, informational and navigational distances give workforce professionals another way to think about how we design access, especially as technology and AI continue to reshape workforce development.

Read the article, then think about your own community: What is your 45-Minute Problem? https://www.nawdp.org/2026/10/06/the-45-minute-problem/

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West Plains, MO
65775

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