Happy Holidays!
Before I dive into my December Director’s Message, I want to share some exciting news. Last month, I wrote that K-12 educators wanted to attend the forum, but were telling us that the costs associated with attending were making it prohibitive. I asked for help and our partners at the Public Consulting Group (PCG) stepped up to show their support! Here’s what PCG’s Vice President of Government Programs Stephanie Hack shared about their support:
“Public Consulting Group is thrilled to support the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum as resiliency and sustainability (R&S) and workforce development are shared key areas of focus. Given our deep connection with K-12 public school districts throughout North Carolina, we are honored to provide educators with a seat at the table for these critical conversations.”
We are grateful to PCG for making this opportunity a reality. You can learn more about the PCG K-12 Educator Scholarships and apply here. The deadline to apply is Jan. 17.
As we wrap up 2024, I want to take a moment to recap my top five highlights from the year. The following items don’t scratch the surface of all of the amazing work Team IEI has done in 2024. I encourage you to visit the Media section of our website for a comprehensive look at our work!
I now present to you – in no particular order – my top five highlights from 2024:
IEI Releases Talent First Economics Impact Report
One year after releasing the Talent First Economics Task Force Recommendations Report, we released the Talent First Economics Impact Report, highlighting the work IEI and our collaborative partners have engaged in to help put talent first; increasing our understanding of what employees are looking for and how employers and systems can respond.
Stay tuned for future reports on the impact of our forums!
IEI Releases 2023-2024 Annual Report
It’s a privilege to be able to pause and reflect on the previous fiscal year while preparing for the next. This summer, we released our 2023-2024 Annual Report, featuring highlights from our programs and forum-related work.
Check it out, and be on the lookout for our 2024-2025 annual report next year!
BAND-NC Team Hosts First Digital Opportunities Gathering
This summer, digital inclusion experts and community leaders representing 40 NC counties gathered at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock for IEI’s first Digital Opportunities Gathering. In partnership with the Dogwood Health Trust, this first-of-its-kind event brought together more than 130 community leaders and experts to discuss challenges to bridging the digital divide in North Carolina, as well as share success stories and best practices from across the state.
We look forward to hosting similar events in other areas of the state in the near future!
IEI celebrates 20 years of the National Advisory Board
This October, we were thrilled to host past and present IEI board members, directors, partners and other special guests to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our National Advisory Board, as well as two decades of collaborative work to address the emerging issues impacting our state. It was an amazing celebration and I can’t wait to see what the next two decades will bring! Read more about the celebration in this recap.
And finally…
IEI introduces Future Forward Energy
This fall, we officially opened registration for our 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy. Taking place on Feb. 19, 2025, this is the first in our three-year forum series on our state’s future infrastructure needs in relation to our growing population, AI and technological innovation, weather-related events and more. The 2025 forum will examine the state’s energy landscape in the areas of affordability, workforce development needs, and the reliability and resiliency of our energy grid.
We’re excited to see you in February! Be sure to check out our forum agenda and follow us on social media for our latest updates.
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