Workforce Solutions Alamo
Workforce Leadership Academy
Workforce Solutions Alamo is pleased to announce the launch of the Workforce Solutions Alamo Workforce Leadership Academy for 2023-2024
The Workforce Leadership Academy brings leaders from across the Alamo Region workforce ecosystem together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. The Academy provides a forum for local leaders to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems-based challenges and create shared solutions for economic opportunity for all. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks: strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs.
Alumni of the Academy become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, joining Fellows from fourteen previous Academies in eleven cities in the US and Canada
Virtual Information Session
Watch this pre-recorded webinar to learn more about the Academy, Click Here
2023 Aspen Fellows
| Name | Company | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia | San Antonio City Council | District 4 Councilwoman |
| Angelica Cervantes, LCSW-S | YWCA-SA | Chief Operating Officer |
| Ashley Geyer | Guido Companies | Director of Employee Engagement |
| Caroline Goddard | Workforce Solutions Alamo | Strategic Community Partnership Manager/Equal Opportunity Officer |
| Christopher Mammen | greater:SATX | Vice President of Workforce Development |
| Deborah Carter | Bexar County - Economic & Community Development | Economic Development Director |
| Deborah Siller-Cruz | Each One Teach One | Executive Director |
| Janie Martinez Gonzalez | Webhead | CEO and Digital Engineer |
| Kat Lallo | Converse Economic Development Corporation | Business Retention and Expansion Manager |
| Kelli G. Rhodes | Restore Education | President & CEO |
| Lakeshia Bragg | United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County | Systems Director, Dual Generation Initiative |
| Manuel Ugues | Serco of Texas, Inc. | Regional Director |
| Mike Crowley | New Braunfels EDC | Director, Workforce and Industry Development |
| Natasha Richardson | Communities In Schools | Strategic Partnership Manager |
| Richard Davidson | Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc. | COO |
| Robert H. Reyna, MBA | Bexar County - Community & Housing | Community Development Director |
| Robert Spencer | Express Employment Professionals | Owner |
| Sandra Torres Richardson | Strategic Links | President |
| Sonia Sandoval | Bexar County Community Supervision & Corrections Dept. | Program Analyst II |
| Steve Dane | Haven for Hope of Bexar County | Director, Income & Skills Development |
| Virginia "Nina" Villalta | City of San Antonio - Department of Human Services | Senior Management Analyst |
| Yousef Kassim | Easy Expunctions | CEO |
View the Alamo Region Workforce Leadership Academy — 2023 Fellows and Facilitators Bio Page: Click Here
Presentations from the Alamo Region Workforce Leadership Academy Fellows:
Education & Training
Employer Partnerships
Strategic Navigation
Measures & Outcomes
ACADEMY GOALS
The Academy engages leaders in a yearlong peer learning cohort to:
- Expand and deepen professional networks and partnerships;
- Strengthen organizational and systems leadership skills;
- Apply a race and equity lens to assess and improve workforce services and strategies;
- Apply systems change framework to Fellows’ work;
- Deepen understanding of effective strategies and programs; and
- Provide a forum to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems based challenges and create shared solutions
Fellows participate in:
Over the academy year beginning January 12th, 2023, Fellows participate in:
- A virtual 90-minute orientation
- An opening three-day retreat (two overnights)
- Five Academy sessions and five Collaborative Learning Labs meetings held during the same week: four held online (5 hours) and one held in person (6 hours)
- One leadership 360 assessment process and debrief workshop
- A closing three-day retreat (two overnights)
- Collaborative Learning Lab presentations at an in-person stakeholder event
- Reception event for supervisors and advisors
- Partners may also decide to offer additional networking and social events
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington DC. Its mission is to spark intellectual inquiry and exchange, create a diverse worldwide community of leaders committed to the greater good, and provide a nonpartisan forum for reaching solutions on vital public policy issues. The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances promising strategies and policies to help low- and moderate-income Americans connect to and thrive in a changing economy. Over its 25 years of work, the Economic Opportunities Program has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and to build assets and economic stability.
This initiative is made possible by the generous support of Walmart, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation.
QUOTES FROM PREVIOUS FELLOWS
“Through the course of a year, it will transform how you view and leverage partnerships, advocate on behalf of disenfranchised populations, listen to dissenting views with earnest validation, along with transforming your community outcomes through an action-oriented systems thinking approach.”
“My work is deep in program and operations and this was hugely helpful to challenge myself to take a step back and evaluate the bigger issues at play.”
“… an incredible learning opportunity to understand yourself as a leader, challenge yourself in discomfort, identify the major players in the local workforce space and meet great people, doing great work – all through a critical racial equity lens.”