Promise to Paycheck

In this episode of Promise to Paycheck, Angela Farley, executive in residence at the Economic Mobility Center, sits down with Laura Ward, CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, to unpack the "paycheck" side of the Promise to Paycheck equation. They're joined by Tasia Lewis, a career advisor with the Young Adult Program, and Tyreon Gross, a former warehouse forklift operator now training to become an electrician, who shares how one conversation with a friend put him on a path to a six-figure career.

They also cover the nine Workforce Solutions job centers spread across Dallas County, how the customer-choice model lets jobseekers pick their own path, what these services actually cost (free for everyone, with additional support available if you qualify), and how AI is already reshaping the jobs people need to train for next.

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Laura Ward, CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas

1:00 What Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas does, and why it's free

2:00 Nine job centers across Dallas County

3:00 How Workforce Solutions partners with Dallas College and EMC

4:00 Meet career advisor Tasia Lewis and the Young Adult Program

5:00 Tyreon's story: from a friend's recommendation to the program

6:00 Why Tyreon chose the electrical technician pathway

7:00 A customer-choice approach to career coaching

8:00 Getting the word out to more young people

9:00 Who's eligible: not just youth, not just one age group

9:30 What Tyreon could earn, from the high $60,000s to six figures

11:00 Skills assessments, job shadowing, and mentorship

12:00 Inside the classroom: safety, wiring, and hands-on training

13:00 What happens after graduation: the follow-up program

14:00 The real barriers to access, from awareness to a flat tire

15:00 How AI is reshaping the workforce, not just eliminating jobs

17:00 How Workforce Solutions works with employers

18:00 Advice for a recent high school grad who doesn't have a plan

19:30 How the program is funded

20:30 A new text campaign reaching recent graduates

21:00 A new Irving South center opening this fall

22:00 Why Tasia loves being a case manager

23:00 Tyreon's next step: job placement through UEI

24:00 Tracking outcomes and data ahead of the 2027 legislative session

Excellence for Every Student: How Two Superintendents Are Closing the Gap Between School and Career

Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, Superintendent of Dallas ISD, and Dr. Rick Lopez, Superintendent of Garland ISD, join Promise to Paycheck to discuss how their districts are moving students past the old choice between college and career, and toward a system where both paths lead to the same outcome: a livable wage. Guest host Dr. Usamah Rodgers leads the conversation, covering the three-way partnership with Dallas College, how each district uses labor market data to decide which career pathways to build or cut, and why closing the "handoff" gap between school and industry matters as much as the credential itself.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The commitment to ensuring every student has access to a living wage pathway in Dallas County and Texas
• The foundational belief in excellence in education for every student as a driver for college and career readiness initiatives
• Strategies for identifying and supporting students who might otherwise be left out of traditional college or career pathways
• The evolution of programs such as P-TECH, early college high schools, and standalone career institutes, and their partnership with Dallas College and industry leaders
• The role of intentional culture-setting and high expectations within school districts to break cycles of poverty through opportunity
• Approaches to redefining “vocational” and career education to highlight high-skill, high-demand, and high-paying careers
• The importance of partnerships to create seamless transitions for students and prevent them from getting lost in the handoff after graduation
• Lessons learned from expanding innovative models, such as scaling early college and P-TECH programs across high schools
• The need for program flexibility and responsiveness to industry trends, student interests, and local economic demands
• Early career exposure in middle and high school to inform student choice and ensure all students see available opportunities as accessible
• The impact of college credit accumulation (e.g., 15+ hours) on student confidence and long-term educational persistence
• The vital role of business and industry in supporting student internships, job fairs, financial stewardship, and advocacy for meaningful credentials
• Concerns about overemphasis on standardized testing versus real-world readiness and CCMR (College, Career, Military Readiness)

Support our work by subscribing to Promise to Paycheck and sharing this episode with others committed to building pathways to living-wage careers. Learn more about our work at https://economicmobilitycenter.org.

Dr. Eric Ban welcomes Dr. Warren von Eschenbach , President of the University of North Texas at Dallas, for an in-depth conversation about pathways to economic mobility and the evolving mission of UNT Dallas. They discuss the university's 15th anniversary as a standalone institution, its unique place as Dallas’ only public university, and the impact this has had on the local community. Dr. Warren highlights the significance of UNT Dallas being deeply intertwined with the Dallas County Promise initiative, which now serves as the entryway for approximately 75% of their students, many of whom are first-generation college attendees.

They also talk about student success strategies, with Dr. Warren describing tailored supports such as wraparound services, embedded tutors, success coaches, and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students not only academically but also for career advancement. He shares stories, including that of an 89-year-old grandmother who completed her degree after years of dedication. They also discuss current and future directions for the university, such as interdisciplinary programs like a new Bachelor of Arts in Cybersecurity, deeper collaborations with industry partners, innovative teacher residency programs, and efforts to create a more cohesive higher education ecosystem in Dallas. They also cover the importance of cross-sector partnerships, affordability, and the broader transformative value of higher education for individuals and the Dallas community at large.

Key Topics Discussed:

• UNT Dallas’ growth as Dallas' only public four-year university and its 15-year milestone
• The foundational role of the Dallas County Promise in shaping UNT Dallas’ student body and mission
• Benefits of cross-sector collaboration through the Promise Advisory Board, emphasizing representation from universities, school districts, employers, funders, and nonprofits
• Strategies to support first-generation and underrepresented students, including wraparound services, summer bridge programs, embedded tutors, and success coaches
• Experiential learning initiatives supported by a $7 million state grant, focusing on building workforce-relevant and enduring human skills
• Creation of interdisciplinary academic pathways, such as the new Bachelor of Arts in cybersecurity blending technical expertise with communication skills
• Efforts to make higher education accessible and affordable, including the Trailblazer Tuition Trust program for students from lower-income families
• Innovative residency programs in teacher education, in partnership with Dallas ISD and state funding, allowing student teachers to earn salaries and benefits while completing training
• The value of on-campus employment and partnerships aligning student work opportunities with their studies to support financial stability and skill-building
• Commitment to the transformational, not just transactional, power of higher education—highlighting social capital, personal development, and long-term career readiness
• The drive toward greater collaboration among higher education institutions, aiming for aligned processes, shared language, and simplified pathways for students and families
• The importance of interdependence among educational, government, and philanthropic partners to achieve collective impact for the community

Welcome to Promise to Paycheck. In this episode, Dr. Eric Ban sits down with Dr. Justin Lonon of Dallas College and Justin Williams from the Commit Partnership to explore the transformative work happening in Dallas County around economic mobility and living wage pathways. Together, they discuss the origins of the Dallas County Promise, the collaborative journey among educational institutions, policymakers, and employers, and the bold vision to double living-wage attainment in the region by 2040.

They discuss how innovative partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless commitment to student success are reshaping the educational and workforce landscape in North Texas. They also talk about what matters when it comes to policy changes, dual credit programs, employer engagement, and community governance, along with what the future could look like when every student has a real shot at a sustainable career.

Learn how Dallas County is setting the pace for economic mobility and hear the stories of impact, collaboration, and hope shaping the next generation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The promise of economic mobility in Dallas County and the goal for every student to access a path to a living wage
• Dallas College’s role as a bridge between education and workforce pipelines, expanding opportunity through initiatives like the Rising Star Scholarship and P-TECH programs
• The importance of strong regional partnerships—schools, colleges, and employers—working together to support student success and economic advancement
• The shift from philanthropic to sustainable public funding via policy changes (HB3 for K12 and HB8 for community colleges), incentivizing results and continuous improvement
• Investments in dual credit and early college high schools, enabling thousands of students to earn credentials before graduation
• The significance of community governance via advisory boards, collective data analysis, and trust-building for steering the region’s progress
• Long-term ambitions: Dallas College’s Vision 2030 for credential production, reducing poverty, and closing opportunity gaps
• The need to engage students earlier in high school and expose them to diverse career paths and postsecondary options, with adult advisors playing a crucial belief-building role
• Personalizing education and workforce experiences through innovative technology, data systems, and year-round advising
• Employer engagement: aligning workforce demand with student preparation through sector strategies, industry partnerships, and new approaches to talent pipeline forecasting

Promise to Paycheck is a new podcast from the Economic Mobility Center, hosted by Dr. Eric Ban. Every episode digs into the real stories, systems, data, and partnerships driving economic mobility across North Texas and beyond — from designing better career pathways to understanding which credentials actually pay off. Joining the conversation are students, leaders, educators, employers, and innovators rethinking how people move through our education systems and into one of the strongest regional economies in the world. Because behind every statistic is a story — and when students have the right support, opportunity, and guidance, everything can change.