California EDGE Campaign.
The California EDGE Campaign is a nonprofit coalition of major employers, educators, regional workforce development leaders, labor, and industry associations working together to propose sound policy that will prepare Californians for the high-wage, skilled jobs that will drive California's economic recovery. In collaboration with local partners, National Skills Coalition field staff helped lead the initial organizing and platform development of the EDGE campaign.
Click here to contact EDGE Campaign staff.
Key Partners
California Budget Project
California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
California Hospital Association
California Manufacturing and Technology Association
California Workforce Association
Career Ladders Project of the Foundation for California Community Colleges
Community College League of California
Ella Baker Center
PolicyLink
State Building and Construction Trades Council
Major Efforts
With National Skills Coalition, released California’s Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs in October 2009, which generated widespread media attention. As part of National Skills Coalition’s Skills2Compete fly-in, representatives from EDGE met with members of California’s Congressional Delegation in Washington, DC, to discuss report findings in November 2009.
Co-sponsored a Learning Session on Sector Strategies with the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) in October 2009, highlighting how states can support focused, comprehensive initiatives at the regional level. The Learning Session was attended by more than 80 leaders, including CWIB members, state officials, legislative staff, and local workforce board members.
Held a state policymaker briefing focusing on building a strong, inclusive green economy in California in March 2009 that featured expert speakers who presented new data on the job creation potential of the green economy and model training programs.
Publications and Resources
Reports:
California's Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs
National Skills Coalition and California EDGE Campaign, October 2009
California's Edge: Keeping California Competitive, Creating Opportunity
California EDGE Campaign, 2006
Audio Briefings:
Listen to audio clips from a press conference about the release of California's Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs report.
- Introduction and Report Overview | Agnes Balassa, National Skills Coaliton
- Campaign Lead | Virginia Hamilton, California Workforce Association and the California EDGE Campaign
- Employer Perspective | Kellie Johnson, CEO of ACE Clearwater Enterprises in Los Angeles
Media List
- 'Middle-skill' jobs could be path to success | Ventura County Star, 02.27.2010
- Smart path to economic recovery - invest in skills | San Francisco Chronicle, 11.15.2009
- High school graduates, gearing up for a bachelor's degree: Report urges skills training | Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 10.24.2009
- Report urges keeping sight of mid-level jobs | The Press Enterprise, 10.21.2009
- California could face shortage of skilled workers | Sacramento Bee, 10.20.2009
- Better training could help fill technical jobs | San Francisco Chronicle, 10.20.2009
- California sees demand coming for 2.7 million jobs | Orange County Register, 10.19.2009
- Prediction: More than 2.7 million 'middle-skill' jobs by 2016 | Central Valley Business Times, 10.19.2009
- Study: California should focus training on 'middle-skill' jobs | LA Times, 10.19.2009
