SYNC OUR SIGNALS Hope Street Group

SYNC OUR SIGNALS BACKGROUND The Hope Street Group mission is to ensure every American has access to economic opportunity. HSG believes key drivers for economic opportunity are a quality education and a good job. Sync Our Signals, optimizes the signaling between employers, education and individuals concerning competencies measurably related to job performance. The goal of Sync Our Signals (SOS) is “25 by 25” - 25% of the workforce moving up one level by 2025. For the past 3 years, Hope Street Group has been focused on solving the “signaling” issue between employers, individuals and intermediaries on the competencies needed for success in a given career pathway. During that time, we have built networks in four industries made up of a collection of leading employers and stakeholder groups working to collaboratively drive system change in Workforce and Education. During this process, we have also continued to refine our approach and strategy based on our learnings and experience.

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE SOS provides an evidence-based approach and methodology to clearly define job requirements that are measurably related to job performance so that employers, individuals, and education providers are all aware of the competencies needed to obtain a job, perform successfully, and advance. NOTES to add: Cultivation/development/execution of networks Agency Model ADD triangle chart Practice informs policy, new technologies, tools and technology We will do curriculum and credentialing only - no only tools/platforms NETWORKS = Innovation

SOS NETWORK IMPACT Health Career Pathways Network (HCPN) is a nationwide initiative designed to support individuals by advancing demand-driven, competency-based career pathways HSG provides technical support including formulation and implementation of evidence-based career pathway programs Manufacturing Career Pathways Network (MCPN),launched in 2017 Modeled after HCPN, workforce development professionals, employers, community partners, and education providers come together to learn the career pathways model and then support each other locally through the adoption of best practices Retail Opportunity Network (RON), funded by Walmart Giving’s $100 Million Opportunity Initiative, launched in 2015 50 organizations working collaboratively to drive system change for the U.S. retail workforce by developing ways to make it easier for frontline retail workers to advance in their careers Teacher Fellows is operating in six states HSG is actively participating in how educators and districts play a prominent role in ensuring individuals understand and have access to viable career pathways In Kentucky and North Carolina, our Teacher Fellows Network is beginning to coordinate and connect educators and P-20 organizations with local workforce needs .

LESSONS FROM THE PAST THREE YEARS CONCEPT RECOGNITION MISALIGNED INCENTIVES A HANDS-ON EFFORT IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT DRIVERS AMONG EMPLOYERS WORKFORCE PARTNER PARTICIPATION The biggest challenge to the adoption of competence based practice is the lack of professional infrastructure to support that adoption. https://hopestreetgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/HSG18-007_SOS_Program-Summary_FIN.pdf

OUR PLAN: SKILLING AMERICA HSG is piloting a solution with Goodwill Industries International named GoodPaths, an evidence-based career navigation curricula, with plans to scale nationwide to other Goodwill member sites. As many as 9% of the 289 Goodwill retail employees enrolled in the GoodPaths pilot have been promoted after five months and 85% have received wage increases. Hope Street Group will focus on two solutions to progress the impact of Sync our Signals in Skilling America: Networks: Incubate Innovation Change Agents: Building the on-the-ground capability