Making Better Work

Kristin Wolff talks with Natalie Evans Harris, BrightHive Co-Founder, Beeck Center (Georgetown) Fellow, and White House and National Security Administration Alumna. Natalie is one of the foremost experts in the country on data governance. She's worked at the highest levels of the federal government and also with state and local community-based organizations; with the public and private sectors separately and in collaboration. We could have talked to her about her vast experiences and inspired hopes for the future for days. Instead we packed a lot in 30 minutes. Have a listen!

More about Natalie

• Natalie's website: harrisdata.co
• Natalie & BrightHive: brighthive.io/brighthive-team
• Natalie's Sharing Data for Social Impact Guidebook: beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/report/sharing-data-for-social-impact-guidebook-to-establishing-responsible-governance-practices/
• Twitter: @QuietStormNat

Resources Cited:

• Beeck Center: beeckcenter.georgetown.edu
• Sharing Data for Social Impact Guidebook: beeckcenter.georgetown.edu/report/sharing-data-for-social-impact-guidebook-to-establishing-responsible-governance-practices/
• SDGs: sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
• Jobs Data Exchange: uschamberfoundation.org/workforce-development/JDX

See Natalie (or hear her) at a rescheduled, virtual or future:

Code for America Summit: codeforamerica.org

SXSW: sxsw.com/

Tom Tom Summit: tomtomfest.com/summit/

Enjoy!

Have you heard? Making Better Work has launched a newsletter! We're working how data can help us navigate the #FutureofWork. Sign up here or tweet (@kristinwolff) or email ([email protected]) and we'll sign you up.

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Hunter Morancy, Senior Economic Research Analyst at the Center for Workforce Research and Information in Maine. Hunter is the point person for Maine's Workforce Data Quality Initiative or WDQI, part of the national effort to build longitudinal workforce data systems supported by the US Department of Labor.

Hunter talks us through the key steps that helped he and his colleagues build a secure warehouse (spoiler alert: it's not really about the warehouse!). We're thrilled to hear about what Maine learned through the process and where it's headed next. No doubt you will be too – Hunter's energy is plain contagious.

Enjoy!

For more information:

• Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI): https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/
• Maine EARNS: https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/maineearns/
• Maine Job Link: https://joblink.maine.gov/ada/r/training
• Governance Handbook: https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/maineearns/pdf/GovernanceHandbook.pdf
• Find Hunter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-morancy-845a60b7/

Have you heard? Making Better Work has launched a newsletter! We're working how data can help us navigate the #FutureofWork. Sign up here or tweet (@kristinwolff) or email ([email protected]) and we'll sign you up.

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

"The changes are staggering!"

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Dr. Marian Negoita, Senior Associate at Social Policy Research (what a treat to interview a colleague!). Marian is an expert in federal program evaluation. He's evaluated dozens of workforce, education, and human services programs all over the country and in his home state of California. For those new to the evaluation business, this podcast is a master class. For those who get excited about using data to make a difference in peoples' lives, Marian is your kind of researcher.

For more information:

• Examples of Dr. Negoita's work:
  • Evaluation Collaborative/OCCRL
  • Belleview College TAACCCT Evaluation
  • Brief: Intrusive Advising
• Google Scholar (because Dr. Negoita does a lot of different kinds of research)
• Social Policy Research Associates https://www.spra.com/

Social:

• Twitter: @Social_Policy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marian-negoita-3a597a8/

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor. The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives

Dr. Josh Hawley is a workforce data guru. An Associate Professor in the Glenn College and an Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, Dr. Hawley also leads the Ohio Education Research Center, a collaboration of six Ohio universities and four research organizations aimed at bridging research, policy and practice around education in the State of Ohio, pre-school through workforce. He also serves as faculty for Coleridge Initiative (New York University) administrative data training programs and as a formal subject matter expert for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative and informal advisor to states all over the country seeking to improve the way they manage and use education and workforce data.

In this podcast, Kristin Wolff (our host) talks with Dr. Hawley about what he's learned in over a decade of work in this area, what opportunities he sees, and how he's put the data he works with to use in his own research on education and workforce policy and programs, including apprenticeship.

Enjoy! (And, by all means, share and comment!)

For more information: · Dr. Josh Hawley, Ohio State University: http://glenn.osu.edu/faculty/glenn-faculty/hawley/ · Dr. Hawley explains workforce development (video): https://www.flatlandkc.org/news-issues/education/making-case/ · Coleridge Initiative: https://coleridgeinitiative.org · Ohio Analytics: http://www.ohioanalytics.gov/index.stm · Workforce Success Measures: https://workforcesuccess.chrr.ohio-state.edu/about · Apprenticeship: https://workforcesuccess.chrr.ohio-state.edu/reports?location=99999&program=app&subprogram=all&provider=n · Also: https://fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/commentary/making-good-apprenticeship-promise-will-require-major-investment-states

Social: · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-h-bbaa6b1/

· Twitter: @HawleyJosh

Sign up for the #MakingBetterWork monthly newsletter – your source for all things #data & #FutureofWork:

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor. The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Joshua Mallett, Senior Associate at Social Policy Research (what a treat to interview a colleague!)

Josh is fairly new to SPR, so it was a special treat for Kristin to engage him in the wide-ranging discussion of how he built a career in public policy through data, stats, and coding just as new collaborative tools and ways of working with data were emerging, and what opportunities he sees for policy and data professionals working on critical social challenges today. Joshua so clearly communicates his intense curiosity and respect for new ways of generating insight – it's inspiring. He's experimented with so many tools and platforms it was impossible for us to capture all of them in the shownotes – so we're providing the ability to connect with him directly instead.

Enjoy! (And, by all means, share and comment!

For more information: · GitHub (Josh loves distributed version control!) · Rand Studies: https://www.rand.org/pubs/authors/m/mallett_joshua.html · LaTex (Josh also loves reproducible research!) · R/RStudio/RShiny

Social: · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-mallett-252892156/

Sign up for the #MakingBetterWork monthly newsletter – your source for all things #data & #FutureofWork:

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor. The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

In episode, we turn the tables and interview Kristin Wolff, the host of #MakingBetterWork about what's going on in the world of workforce data and what we can look forward to next year – and it's a lot. Turns out the data can be useful in helping us navigate the #FutureofWork.

Here's the last #MakingBetterWork newsletter: https://publicate.it/p/E3x_xT119303 And here's how you can sign up for the next one: https://mailchi.mp/903537e424bb/mbwnews

In this episode, our host, Kristin Wolff, talks with Laura Ring and Dr. Jonathan Barlow. Laura is the Director of the Office of Grant Management at the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, and Jonathan is the Associate Director of Software Architecture and Development at NSPARC – National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center – located on the Mississippi State University Campus in Starkville.

Grab your trainers and chart your course – this episode is longer than most and you'll want to hear every word. We discuss how to build sustainable partnerships, the key turning points in the evolution of Mississippi's longitudinal data system, and a raft of new products and tools under development now. Jonathan and Laura's rich explanations and stories paint a picture of how policy and program work changes when data is connected, supported by high-quality governance structures, and used collectively, and why that's so important for Mississippi students, workers, and businesses.

It's a remarkable story. Have a listen.

For more information: · MS Department of Employment Security: https://mdes.ms.gov/information-center/; MSWorks: https://www.mississippiworks.org/; MSWorks App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ms-works/id773775917 · NSPARC: https://www.nsparc.msstate.edu/ · About the Hub: https://www.govtech.com/workforce/New-State-Hub-Connects-Mississippi-Agencies-Around-Workforce-Data.html · Find Laura: https://mdes.ms.gov/information-center/about-mdes/contact-us/

· Find Jonathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-barlow-97174661/ · MS Scorecard: https://swib.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ScoreCardApril19.pdf

Social: · Twitter: @NSPARC_MSState · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nsparc/

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor. The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Analyst for the Workforce Data Quality Campaign (WDQC) in Washington DC, and long-time thought partner, data advocate, and master documentarian of all things workforce data.

Jenna offers an insider's view of major trends in past, present, and future in education and workforce data. She cites a treasure trove of resources for data champions seeking to make higher and better use of their data and even share a preview of resource under development at the National Skills Coalition and WDQC.

For more information:

· National Skills Coalition & Workforce Data Quality Campaign: https://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/national-initiatives/workforce-data-quality-campaign

·EMSI: https://www.economicmodeling.com/higher-education/\

·Burning Glass: https://www.burning-glass.com/research/

·Monroe Community College: https://mccediws.com/

·Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Data Exchange: https://www.wiche.edu/longitudinalDataExchange

· New York University's Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF): https://cusp.nyu.edu/news/administrative-data-facility-enables-cross-state-data-sharing/

· US Department of Education's Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant Program: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/ and US Department of Labor's Workforce Data Quality Initiative: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20190722 · SWIS: https://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/news/blog/states-should-participate-in-swis-to-obtain-out-of-state-wage-data

· Tennessee's College and Career Success efforts: https://ccrscenter.org/ccrs-landscape/state-profile/tennessee · Registered Apprenticeship (US): https://www.apprenticeship.gov/become-apprentice

· Minnesota Grad Employment Outcomes Tool: https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/graduate-employment-outcomes/

· Michigan School Data (Report Card): https://www.mischooldata.org/

· Kentucky Center for Statistics: https://kystats.ky.gov/

Social:

· Twitter: @SkillsCoalition

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalskillscoalition/

Post-Script: During the production of this podcast, Jenna accepted a new position with Public Knowledge, where she will no doubt expand her own expertise and enrich the organization's technology and legal chops! We wish her continued success and happiness! You can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-leventoff-810b5b27/

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor. The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.

Tonya Lee, Assistant Labor Market Information Director at the Alabama Department of Labor, is our guest this week on Making Better Work.

Alabama joined the workforce longitudinal data community in 2018, after securing its first ever federal WDQI grant. The state has a bold vision for working with data partners to connect data from across education and workforce agencies, and working with employers to better understand the state's talent pipeline.

Tonya shares these aspirations and discusses the steps the state is taking today. She also reveals the most important lessons she learned from other states in the workforce data community that have been at it much longer.

Have a listen!

For more information:

· WDQI Press Release on AL.com: https://www.al.com/business/2017/06/alabama_department_of_labor_wi.html

· Governor's priority: Data-informed Workforce Policy: https://www.alreporter.com/2018/12/10/moore-working-to-implement-governors-strategic-education-to-workforce-plan/

· Alabama's Strong Start, Strong Finish Initiative: https://www.alreporter.com/2018/08/14/ivey-reports-successful-first-year-for-strong-start-strong-finish-education-initiative · Alabama Department of Labor LMI Division: http://www2.labor.alabama.gov/ · Alabama Works 2018 Annual Report: https://alabamaworks.com/wp-content/uploads/awc-annual-report-2018.pdf

· Find Tonya: [email protected]

@AL_Labor Facebook

Have you heard? Making Better Work has launched a newsletter. Sign up here or tweet (@kristinwolff) or email ([email protected]) and we'll sign you up

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representative

Clinton Flowers is the guest in this episode of Making Better Work. He leads the Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) effort in Missouri. A strategist by nature and a planner in practice, Clinton believes that curating and contextualizing data is as important as providing it – which is why partnerships are so important in the building of shared data systems.

He shares his insights about enduring partnerships, shared intelligence, and new opportunities for Missourans learn, work, and advance.

He also points us to some of the state's new data tools, and previews some key agency-level changes afoot.

Have a listen!

For more information:

· MoSCORES (Missouri School Credentials for Occupations Resulting in Employment Success), Customer-facing tool containing information about student participants – in Missouri's credit and non-credit education and training programs – and their outcomes. https://jobs.mo.gov/jobseeker/training-and-education (There's even a snazzy explainer video!) · Missouri's agency restructuring effort: https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-announces-new-approach-economic-and-workforce-development; http://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2019/jan/17/parson-in-state-of-the-state-address-department-redesigns-to-boost-workforce-development/761479/

· Missouri's Eligible Training Provider System: https://etps.mo.gov/etps/etpsSearch/InstitutionSearch.aspx · Find Clinton: [email protected]

@MoLabor, #MoSCORES Facebook

Have you heard? Making Better Work has launched a newsletter. Sign up here or tweet (@kristinwolff) or email ([email protected]) and we'll sign you up

_______

Disclaimer:

This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from the US Department of Labor.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and should not be attributed to the US Department of Labor or other public agencies (state, federal, or local). Mentions of trade names, commercial products or organizations does not imply endorsement of same by the US Government or representatives.