Tessa LeSage talks workforce and community resilience with experts
FutureMakers Coalition has launched the fifth season of its Talent Talk podcast featuring area changemakers.
Tessa LeSage, Collaboratory Chief Impact Officer, takes listeners on a deep dive into the ever-changing world of workforce talent, education and economic development. In this season, experts address some of the psychology and systems around resiliency.
“I hope listeners tune in on their preferred podcast platform,” LeSage said. “As we face another hurricane season, these episodes contain insights that can help all of us understand how resiliency leads to a stronger workforce, economy and community.”
In the most recent episode, LeSage speaks with Jeff Carney, a professor at the University of Florida School of Architecture and Director of the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience, on how to adapt to an ever-changing world. They explore how the concept of resilience is reshaping careers and communities in design, construction, and planning.
Carney teaches his architectural students how to help communities rebound after a natural disaster and consider a different future transformed through disturbance. But he also teaches them how to work across disciplines to make changes before disaster strikes.
“Let’s build some consensus around change and start to move in that direction,” he said. “I don’t think that all of this is about a sort of disaster response. A lot of it is about pre-mitigation – mitigating the event before it happens.”
Season Five has released three episodes with more forthcoming. Isom Rigell and Mia Rae Stephens with Chapman Insurance Group in Fort Myers talk about turning trials into transformative growth in workplaces disrupted by disasters. LeSage also speaks to Paul Werner, a resilient entrepreneur and tradesman whose journey from addiction and incarceration to owning a growing plumbing and contracting business is nothing short of inspiring.
The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google and the FutureMakers website at https://www.futuremakerscoalition.com/talenttalk/.
FutureMakers Coalition aims to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the proportion of skilled working age adults with college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications and other high-quality credentials to 55 percent. It is the premier regional initiative in Southwest Florida, leading a network of more than 260 individuals and 180 cross-sector partner organizations. FutureMakers Coalition is regarded as one of Florida and the nation’s most advanced collective impact networks. Collaboratory provides backbone support for FutureMakers Coalition.
Since 2013, FutureMakers Coalition has helped increase the percentage of qualified workers with needed education or training from 39 percent to 45.6 percent amounting to more than 78,000 credentials.
FutureMakers Coalition encourages businesses to join and invest in sustaining this community-changing initiative by visiting https://www.futuremakerscoalition.com or emailing Tessa LeSage at tlesage@collaboratory.org.
Available episodes:
Weathering the Storm: Building Workforce Resilience and Community Empathy
When disaster strikes, it doesn’t just impact buildings — it shakes the very foundation of our communities and workplaces. In this episode, Isom Rigell and Mia Rae Stephens with Chapman Insurance Group in Fort Myers talk about turning trials into transformative growth. Learn how organizations can support employees and employers ahead of and through storms and crises and strengthen community.
Second Chances and New Foundations: Paul Werner’s story
In this powerful episode, Paul Werner shares his resilience story and how support from the FutureMakers Navigator program helped him rebuild his career – and his life. The founder of P.W. Home Services Inc. shares what keeps him motivated and how he hopes his story inspires others who are searching for a second chance.
Building Resilience: The Future of Design and Construction with Jeff Carney
In this episode, Jeff Carney, an associate professor at the University of Florida School of Architecture and director of the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience, explores how the concepts of resilience are reshaping careers in design, construction, and planning. Jeff shares insights on what the workforce of the future needs to thrive in an era of increasing environmental and social challenges.
About FutureMakers Coalition
FutureMakers Coalition is a regional collective impact initiative that has been designated a Talent Hub by Lumina Foundation in partnership with The Kresge Foundation to support local efforts to increase educational attainment. Formed in 2015 around existing regional collaborations, the Coalition is committed to creating a cradle-to-career pathway to ensure success for traditional students and adult learners. FutureMakers Coalition was one of Lumina Foundation’s 75 national Community Partners in Attainment and is a member of the National Talent Network. Collaboratory provides backbone/administrative support to FutureMakers Coalition.
