Pipelines for the skills and training mentioned in Jim Farley and Walter Isaacson’s Oct. 18 op-ed, “The skilled trades undergird the essential economy. Let’s elevate them,” run straight through community colleges.
I applaud the article’s attention to rebranding the skilled trades, but success will require more than glossy marketing. A national strategy that puts more federal resources behind community colleges could transform the landscape of these essential efforts. Community colleges have already shown that they can be powerful partners in implementing Workforce Pell Grants and building apprenticeships in the Labor Department’s recent pay-for-performance program.
Community colleges have long been vocal advocates for the skilled trades and close collaborators with local employers, tracking nuanced changes in training needed for in-demand fields. And their existing relationships with K-12 systems, state workforce boards, local chambers of commerce and corporate leaders provide a network of trusted partners who can activate policies quickly and respond effectively to evolving industry needs.
The Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades is an excellent start, and I shared its new report with 700 community college presidents last week. Investing funds in the intentional work being done to create skilled workers at community colleges is a visionary and practical strategy. The outcomes will not only fortify our nation’s infrastructure but also create economic mobility for Americans.
DeRionne Pollard, Washington
The writer, a former president of Nevada State University, Montgomery College and Las Positas College, is the president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges.