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Exploring NC’s New Digital Skills Standards

NC State University

Spring 2025 cohort of the Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative listening to a speaker in a group session.

Apr 7, 2026

Spring 2026 Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative Accepting Applications

Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2026 Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative cohort, taking place June 15-18. Only 25 spots are available. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until May 8, or until all spots are filled.
Headshot of EDPNC CEO Christopher Chung next to text that reads: "Welcome, New National Advisory Board Member."

Mar 11, 2026

Christopher Chung Joins IEI National Advisory Board

IEI is pleased to announce the appointment of Economic Development Partnership of NC CEO Christopher Chung as a new member of IEI's National Advisory Board.
A group of panelists on stage speaking at the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum in Winston-Salem.

Mar 11, 2026

A Statewide Deep Dive: Highlights from the 2026 Water Forum

Nearly 500 leaders from across North Carolina gathered on Feb. 25 for the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water in Asheville, Winston-Salem and Morehead City to discuss the state's water infrastructure challenges and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the forum.
Headshot of IEI Director of Community Impact Coretta Walker.

Dec 19, 2025

Coretta Walker Joins IEI as Director of Community Impact

IEI is excited to welcome Coretta Walker as its new Director of Community Impact! Coretta will be leading IEI's community engagement efforts and supporting program development. Get to know Coretta!
Close up photo of attendees sitting at a table and listening to a conference speaker at the 2025 Faith & Community Conference, who is not shown in the photo.

Dec 19, 2025

Rooted and Rising at the 2025 Faith & Community Conference

On Nov. 18, faith and community leaders from across North Carolina gathered at Guilford Tech Community College in Colfax for the 2025 Faith & Community Initiative Conference, Rooted and Rising: Faith and Community in a Changing World.
Headshots of IEI Policy & Program Manager Tarik Woods, NC Dept. of Commerce Assistant Secretary of Workforce Solutions Andrea DeSantis, NC Chamber Senior Director of Infrastructure Competitiveness Dana Magliola and NC Justice Center Senior Energy Policy Advocate Claire Williamson; text reads “The Connector, Watt's Next?, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Dec 2, 2025

Watt’s Next?

In the season two finale, IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods is joined by three EIAC members: Andrea DeSantis, Dana Magliola and Claire Williamson. Together, they reflect on the Strategies for Strengthening Our Energy Infrastructure, policy recommendations aimed at helping North Carolinians tackle energy challenges in their communities.
Group photo of the third cohort of IEI's Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative.

Nov 24, 2025

IEI Celebrates Third Cohort of the Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative

IEI is excited to announce the third cohort of the Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative, a professional development program for leaders in workforce and economic development. Graduates earned the professional designation of Strategic Workforce Leader after completing the four-day program.
Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and NCCCS Associate VP of Workforce Strategies Dr. Andrew Gardner; text reads “The Connector, NC Community Colleges: Expanding Opportunities for Students and Adult Learners, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Nov 11, 2025

NC Community Colleges: Expanding Opportunities for Students and Adult Learners

Financial aid just got an upgrade! In this episode, IEI Director Sarah Hall and NCCCS Associate VP of Workforce Strategies Dr. Andrew Gardner talk about two major wins for North Carolina: expansion of Pell Grants to cover short-term training programs and the inclusion of registered apprentices in the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant.
Promotional graphic for the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water featuring a large image of water ripples and the NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues logo with text that reads: "Feb. 25 in Asheville, Winston-Salem, and Morehead City; Register Now at go.ncsu.edu/2026forum."

Nov 5, 2025

Registration Open for the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water

Registration is now open for the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water. The forum will take place on Feb. 25 in Asheville, Winston-Salem and Morehead City, and will also mark 40 years of the Emerging Issues Forum.
Headshots of IEI Digital Opportunities Lead Jess Epsten with Friday Institute's Director of Digital Learning Emma Braaten, Friday Institute's Digital Literacy Coordinator Becky Evans-Wilson, and NCDIT Office of Digital Opportunity Director Maggie Woods; text reads “The Connector, Exploring NC's New Digital Skills Standards, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Oct 14, 2025

Exploring NC’s New Digital Skills Standards

IEI Digital Opportunities Initiative Lead Jess Epsten sits down with digital opportunity experts from the Friday Institute and the NC Department of Information Technology to explore the newly released NC Digital Skills Standards, a framework designed to connect North Carolinians across the digital divide.