SkillRise

Team SkillRise are in the middle of our latest project and thoroughly enjoying learning from our participants. You can read about our work here, what we are learning, and what we want to do next....

Adult education programs are quietly changing entire communities, not just individual lives. We've been thinking about this lately—when someone in their 30s or 40s (or any age) goes back to learn study or gets their GED, it's not just about them. Their kids see that learning never stops. Their neighbors start asking questions about those same programs. Local businesses suddenly have access to workers with fresh skills and renewed confidence. The best part? These aren't just feel-good stories. We're talking about real economic impact. Higher wages mean more money circulating locally. Better-skilled workers attract new businesses. And those newly confident adults? They volunteer more, mentor others, and become the kind of community leaders we need. We've seen this firsthand in programs that really get it right—they don't just focus on job training in isolation, they look at broader skills that can be applied in a multitude of ways. They bring in local employers, support whole families, and create this web of opportunity that lifts everyone up. It's one of those investments that just keeps paying dividends. Anyone else seeing this kind of community transformation through workforce development? Would love to hear what you're noticing in your area. #WorkforceDevelopment #AdultEducation #CommunityImpact

How do we keep up when technology is changing so rapidly? We learn.... we find ways to upskill... but it isn't always easy to do. Look at the way that Reggie navigated change in his workplace. ISTE #digitalskills #workforce #lifelonglearning #upskill

As Jobs for the Future (JFF) #horizons starts to wind down we at SkillRise are struck by the ever growing need for cooperation in helping people attain digital skills and a living wage. It is too simplistic to say 'it takes a village', but it really does. So thankful for the conversations we have had here in New Orleans. Thank you to all! Too many to possibly name without missing others! #lifelonglearning #daretobebrave #workforce #adulted

SkillRise ISTE and Goodwill Industries International have partnered to bring credentials, digital wallets, and skills-based training to Goodwill Arkansas — with powerful support from the MIT Open Source Wallet and credentials developed by Skybridge. This week, we trained over 60 + Goodwill team members from across the state on how to use the new tools and how to talk about skills in ways that resonate with learners and employers alike. This is just the beginning. Next up: wide-scale piloting to bring this innovation to more learners and workers across the state. #DigitalSkills #SkillsBasedHiring #Goodwill #WorkforceDevelopment #EdTech #DigitalWallets #CredentialInnovation #ArkansasJobs

How to Build Confidence in Using Digital Tools for Career Growth #digitalskills #workforce #skillsbased #digitaltools #adulteducation

Really exciting times in the SkillRise universe! We are working with adult learners across the US on building digital skills and skills-based resilience and next week we are headed to Arkansas for some 'on the ground' training in Little Rock. After that we are moseying over to New Orleans to attend Jobs for the Future (JFF) Dare to be Brave conference, and our agenda is packed with meaningful sessions and meetings. Workforce skills, and skills work in general, has never been more relevant and we really enjoy the energy of our community as we step up to the challenges ahead. #skills #adulteducation #workforce #digitalskills

Imagine if we held 'non-degree' learning in the same esteem as we do 'degrees'! The conversation around skills isn't a replacement for degrees, they can co-exist easily. However, think of people who would never have the opportunity to explore careers if that were the only pathway! Fact is, we learn throughout life, sometimes on the job or from a hobby, sometimes we find ways to learn on our own, but we all have a range of valuable and transferable skills. We just haven't really ever found the right way to talk about them. Think about your current job, what skill is the most valuable for this role? When and where did you learn it? Is it on your resume? Let's open the conversation about skills and let's open the door for more diverse pathways to careers! #adulted #workforce #skills

Digital Skills are no longer a 'nice to have', in order to truly carve our own pathways we need to acquire the skills that will open up opportunities. #digitalskills #skills #pathways #adultlearning #workforce ISTE

We are excited to attend the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Dare to be Brave conference in New Orleans in a few weeks. It is always such a thoughtful place to meet, learn and speak to others in our field. Who will we see there? Let us know if you are attending. ISTE #adulteducation #digitalskills #workforce #daretobebrave