Scranton Area Community Foundation NEPA Thrives Workforce Barriers Summit Goes Virtual

Originally scheduled as an in-person event, the NEPA Thrives Workforce Barriers Summit has transitioned to an interactive virtual format via Zoom, ensuring accessibility while maintaining the same valuable content. Hosted by the Scranton Area Community Foundation through its NEPA Thrives initiative, the Summit will bring employers, human resources professionals, executives, and managers together to tackle workforce recruitment and retention challenges across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Join the Workforce Landscape and Sector-Focused Collaboration in The Care Economy on Thursday, February 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The first hour, led by The Institute, will explore workforce dynamics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including in-demand occupations, labor market trends and COVID-19 impacts. A panel featuring experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Geisinger, The Institute and JobsFirstNYC will follow, discussing sector-focused strategies to address workforce recruitment and retention challenges in the Care Economy. Participants will learn about local healthcare demand, industry partnerships, and strengthening talent pipelines. Register here.

If you miss the first session, join the NEPA Workforce Landscape and Sector-Focused Collaboration on Thursday, March 6, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. The Institute will present on the workforce landscape, followed by a discussion on regional workforce challenges. Experts will explore how employers, community organizations, and education providers can collaborate to address recruitment and retention barriers, highlighting promising practices and strategies with insights from JobsFirstNYC. Register here.

Additional Sessions:

March 13 – Strengthening Organizations Presentations

March 19 – Childcare Panel

March 21 – Employment Resources Panel

March 24 – Transportation Panel

April 3 – Unlocking Business Growth through Community Foundation Partnerships

April 9 – K-12 Panel

April 14 – The Welcoming Center

This virtual series will include expert-led discussions and solution-driven collaborations, leading up to an in-person wrap-up collaborative on May 1, 2025.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering systemic change and collaborative solutions that benefit employers, workers, and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. This Summit offers actionable strategies to strengthen organizations and drive economic growth in response to ongoing workforce challenges.

For full session details and to register, visit SAFDN.org.

For inquiries, contact Koren Clark, Community Impact Manager, at koren@safdn.org.