Engaged, Empowered, Employed

Author: Charlotte Works

As the workforce development board serving Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Works leads the way in connecting job seekers and employers, providing skills training and work opportunities for youth and adults, analyzing and sharing data to educate the public on workforce needs, and aligning community partners around workforce initiatives to help make Charlotte-Mecklenburg a place of economic opportunity for all.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Careers, Non-Profit

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Seeds of Success: Early Exposure and the Future Youth Workforce in Charlotte
Tuesday, 18 August, 2026

Workforce readiness doesn't start at graduation—it begins the moment a young person discovers confidence, curiosity, and leadership potential. In this episode of Engaged, Empowered, Employed, Charlotte Works Communications Manager Shameika Rhymes sits down with Tayuanee Dewberry from the Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council and Eric Summerour from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to explore how Charlotte is planting the seeds of success in our youth workforce ecosystem. Together, they discuss how early exposure to STEM, robotics, and foundational "durable skills"—like problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience—sparks long-term impact for our region's future talent. Discover how public schools, community organizations, and regional workforce programs like Charlotte Works' NextGen initiative collaborate to bridge the opportunity gap, ensure ZIP code doesn't determine access, and prepare local youth to step into the careers of tomorrow.