Creating Space to Accelerate Solution Development

The second cohort of the Education and Career Mobility Fellowship gathered for their first seminar in Nashville, Tennessee, this month. As UpSkill America's Senior Director Haley Glover mentioned in her last blog "The Fellowship Effect," the first cohort left her feeling like the future of education and career mobility is in great hands. Coming out of the initial gathering of our second class, it is safe to say we've added 21 more to the list of folks working to innovate and care for the future of work in this space.

Our time together in Nashville was full of intentional space creation, thought-provoking conversations, and planning for the future. The fellows in this cohort are trailblazers from a variety of companies who were so thoughtful and deliberate in how they wanted to use the time they had together to think about big problems.

Solving big problems isn't just about having brilliant ideas; it's about building trust, leveraging collective wisdom, and being open to genuine connection. Community and vulnerability are crucial to problem-solving, especially in a program where diverse minds and experiences converge. It is important that throughout the fellowship experience, the fellows work together to tackle challenges with a holistic approach that values human connection as much as technical expertise. When we build trust and rapport, we create a foundation for collaborative innovation.

As an alum of the first cohort of the Fellowship, I knew the importance of the facilitation team creating an environment where the fellows could be fully present with one another. This group took to one another so naturally, they quickly began to create that environment themselves. Through story sharing, discussing challenges, peer consultations, and even poetry reading, they all held space for each other, asked for feedback from one another, and shared valuable insights. From metrics to the philosophy of mobility, our conversations covered a wide range of meaningful topics. I know that the community created between the fellows last week will carry them through the rest of their fellowship and enable them to create solutions together that will catch on like wildfire.

About the Author

Chelsea Miller is the associate director of UpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program.

Before joining the Institute in September 2024, Chelsea spent five years helping develop and lead the largest employer education benefit program in the US, Live Better U. Leading communications, policy, and portfolio strategy Chelsea made sure access to education was a reason Walmart made the Forbes Change the World list every year since 2018.

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UpSkill America supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America's front-line workers. We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for front-line workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities. Follow us at www.upskillamerica.org and
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The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on publications, blog posts, events, and other announcements.