3rd Annual Workforce Development Symposium
HEC and Midtown Church are hosting the 3rd Annual Workforce Development Symposium to tackle the most pressing issues related to drivers of health. This includes employment and workplace readiness from a neighborhood and data driven solutions focus. We’ll be joined by national and local experts to share their successes and pivots in implementing workforce initiatives that lead to community transformation.
This year's theme, Rooted & Rising: Connecting Purpose, Workforce & Wellness will help participants better understand how various industries can contribute to creating real jobs for real people throughout the Sacramento region.
Conference Goals and Objectives
• Understand how being Rooted & Rising, connecting purpose, workforce, and wellness, strengthens individual, organizational, and community outcomes.
• Recognize the cost of disconnection and identify its impact on engagement, well-being, workforce participation, and access to opportunities.
• Explore emerging access solutions and promising practices that are growing right now to address barriers and foster greater inclusion, connection, and success.
• Develop actionable strategies to strengthen collaboration, expand access, and create meaningful pathways that align purpose, workforce development, and wellness goals.
Target audience - Leaders in the business, non-profit, government, and faith communities.
Conference Agenda
8:00AM - Registration & Breakfast
8:30AM - Welcome and Opening Remarks | Martin Ross, Health Education Council
8:40AM - Impact Through Faith Communities | Pastors Susie Gamez and Christa Armstead, Midtown Church
9:00AM - The Health Wealth Connection - The Cost of Disconnection: Emerging Solutions and Actions | Debra Oto-Kent, Health Education Council
9:35AM - Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprenticeships for Opportunity Youth & Disconnected Adults | Alexis Devine, Alexis Devine Workforce Consulting; Martin Ross, Health Education Council
10:00AM - Rooted & Rising - Connecting Purpose, Workforce, & Wellness | Moderator - Myisha Robertson; Panelists - Levi Ferguson, Alexis Devine, Maria Medrano, Antonio Humann
10:35AM - Cultivating Successful Training Partnerships | Moderator - Gordon Fowler; Panelists - Robert Meyer, Kelly Brenk, Rodney Black, Jennifer Poff, Clint Robinson
11:10AM - Rooted & Rising - Impact Awards | Honorees - Sutter Health, CSUS Counseling Department, Building Careers Foundation, SETA, Anthem, Midtown Church
11:30AM - Break and Lunch Grab
11:50AM - Keynote Presentation - How Access Can Change Our Futures | Chancellor Torence Powell, Los Rios Community College District
12:25PM - Rooted & Still Rising Executive Women Leader Views on Overcoming Workplace Barriers | Moderator - Debra Oto-Kent; Panelists - Erica Taylor, Lauren Oto, Anita Maldonado, Dr. Arrickia McDaniel
1:15PM - Closing Remarks
1:25PM - Networking
