When we talk with employers across Janesville and Rock County, workforce is almost always part of the conversation. Where will our next generation of employees come from? Do they have the skills businesses need? How do we introduce young people to the tremendous career opportunities that exist right here in our community? And how do we give them reasons to build their lives here? Those questions don't have a single answer. And they certainly aren't solved when someone walks through the door for their first day of work. Building a strong workforce starts much earlier. That's why I’m especially excited about this edition of the FJI Report. Throughout these pages, you'll see what can happen when education, business and community partners recognize that preparing our future workforce is a responsibility we all share. Our cover story explores the partnership between Forward Janesville and the School District of Janesville and how our Education Council has evolved from a place to better understand one another into a catalyst for action. That work has helped support investments in our schools, strengthened communication through our Keep Kids Learning initiative, and created new opportunities to connect education with the needs of our business community. You’ll also get a closer look at what happens when those connections move beyond the meeting room and into workplaces. Programs like Craftsman with Character, Janesville Business Academy and Youth Apprenticeship give students opportunities to walk through the doors of local businesses, meet the people doing the work and discover careers they may never have considered. Just as importantly, employers get an opportunity to help develop their future talent pipeline. That connection is something we're committed to growing. You’ll see that same spirit reflected in our Member Engagement feature, where leaders share their perspectives on developing people, creating pathways and strengthening the connections between education and industry. This issue also takes a broader look at what education means to a thriving community. Quint Studer reminds us that learning begins well before kindergarten and continues far beyond graduation. Education can mean early childhood development, strong K-12 schools, technical education, workplace training or even raising our collective “Civic IQ” so residents are better equipped to engage in the decisions shaping their community. That idea feels particularly timely as the brand new children’s museum prepares to open its doors in downtown Janesville. What began as an idea years ago is becoming a place where generations of children will be encouraged to explore, imagine and learn. And, as always, this magazine is also about the people who make our community what it is. You’ll meet members who are investing their time and talents in workforce and education, and you’ll learn more about Lynette Wirth's winding career journey in How Did I Get Here? Her story is another reminder that there is no single pathway to a meaningful career. At Forward Janesville, Workforce & Education is one of the five segments of our Growth Wheel because we know its impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Strong schools help attract families. Career pathways help employers find talent. Work-based learning helps young people see a future for themselves right here. Lifelong learning helps our existing workforce adapt and grow. None of that happens through the work of one organization. It takes educators, employers, parents, students, nonprofits and community leaders working together. That's exactly what you'll see throughout this issue. The workforce of tomorrow is sitting in our classrooms today. Our opportunity — and our responsibility — is to help them see just how much their future can hold. Where Learning Meets Opportunity 4 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Shar Hermanson President & CEO Forward Janesville
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