In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Perna to explore "Rally Your Region," a powerful new initiative developed in partnership with the International Economic Development Council.

Designed to help communities break through silos, build consensus, and take real action, Rally Your Region provides a structured, customizable framework to align stakeholders around a shared vision for economic and workforce success.

If your region struggles to align education, employers, and community leaders, this episode offers a clear path forward.

What You'll Learn

The Concept Behind Rally Your Region

• Why regions need a central rally point to move forward
• How alignment drives measurable economic outcomes
• What makes this initiative different from traditional planning efforts

Why Regional Collaboration Is So Hard

• Competing priorities across organizations
• Lack of shared goals and accountability
• The challenge of moving from discussion to action

Building True Consensus

• How to create buy-in across sectors
• The importance of a shared "why"
• Turning agreement into execution

Connecting Education and Workforce

• Why the education-to-employment pipeline is often broken
• How to better align:
• K-12 systems
• Higher education
• Employers
• Why mindset matters:

"Young people are not a problem to be solved."

The Power of a Rally Point

At the core of the initiative is a simple but powerful idea:

Create a rally point where everyone buys in

• A shared vision
• A common language
• A coordinated strategy

Without it, regions remain fragmented. With it, they can move forward together.

Actionable Steps for Your Community

• Identify key regional stakeholders
• Establish a neutral, trusted convening space
• Define shared priorities and goals
• Customize the Rally Your Region framework to fit your community
• Focus on implementation—not just planning

Key Insights

✔ The world of work has fundamentally changed✔ Alignment is now more important than ever✔ Collaboration must lead to clear action steps✔ Workforce development is a regional challenge✔ Flexibility and customization are critical for success

Memorable Sound Bites

• "Creating a rally point where everyone buys in."
• "The world has completely changed."
• "Young people are not a problem to be solved."