The Center for State Innovation will a host a series of webinars on Innovations for Tough Times that will feature low-cost high-road policy ideas that can make a difference in these times of economic downturn and fiscal distress. The series will lead off with a discussion of green jobs training initiatives and career readiness certificates. Please check back for updates and materials on the webinars listed below.
Upcoming Webinars
PerformanceStat for State Governments
Date TBD
Cities and police departments across the country have used the PerformanceStat model to improve government services and promote innovative management practices. The States of Maryland and Washington have now incorporated the model into state government. This webinar will focus on Maryland’s StateStat program, and some of the best practices and pitfalls associated with the PerformanceStat model.
Presenters
Robert Behn - Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Beth Blauer - Governor’s StateStat Office, State of Maryland
Click
here for more details.
Previous Webinars
Wednesday, December 9 at 1 pm EST (60 minutes)
Nearly a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are produced by light vehicle traffic. Increased fuel efficiency and the shift toward low carbon fuels have the potential to reduce transportation CO2 emissions, modestly. However, it is also necessary to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to significantly reduce GHGs related to transportation. This webinar will feature models that encourage use of mass transit, thereby reducing VMT and relieving traffic congestion, including Boulder’s EcoPass, San Francisco’s commuter tax benefit ordinance, and others.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 2:30 pm EST (60 minutes)
Many states are beginning to realize the potential for building retrofit programs to create jobs and spur the economy, while saving individuals money and protecting the environment. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has directed significant new funding to state weatherization and building retrofit programs; the challenge for states and localities is to make any new programs scalable and to maintain a viable source of financing once ARRA money runs out. This webinar will focus on three efforts to do this on a statewide scale: Michigan’s “Michigan Saves” initiative, Oregon’s House Bill 2626, and the “Efficiency Kansas” program run by the Kansas State Energy Office.
Presenters :
Ryan Freed - Efficiency Kansas Manager at the
Kansas State Energy Office
Abigail Corso - Senior Associate Director at
The Delta Institute
Sally Talberg - Senior Consultant for Energy and Environment at
Public Sector Consulting
Jeremy Hays - Field Director at
Green For All
Jules Kopel Bailey -
Oregon State Representative
Emmaia Gelman - Director for Green Policy from the Center for Working Families
Presentations:
Question and Answer period
Click
here for more details.
Thursday, November 19, 2009, 3 pm EST (60 minutes)
Many young people lack the appropriate skills and credentials to obtain good jobs. While college enrollment has increased steadily over the past three decades, the number of students who obtain a degree or post-secondary credential remains low. This webinar will focus on state and federal strategies to increase post-secondary degree and credential completion rates.
Presenters:
Sara Goldrick-Rab -
Associate Professor of Education Policy Studies and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin
Stan Jones -
President of the Complete College America
Rob Denson -
President of the Des Moines Area Community College
Presentations:
Putting Community Colleges First Presentation - Sara Goldrick-Rab
Complete College America Presentation - Stan Jones
Des Moines Area Community College Call Centers Presentation - Rob Denson
Click
here for more details.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 1pm EST (60 minutes)
The green sector is emerging as one of the brighter points of the American economy. Though both investment in green technologies and employment in jobs that could be considered to be in the green sector are increasing, credentialing for the skills associated with green jobs remains less systematic than it should be. This webinar will outline two innovative programs taking on the challenge of developing a uniform credential for green jobs: Colorado’s Green Advantage program and a Green Career Readiness Certificate initiative.
Presenters:
Steve Clark - Oregon Employment Department
Claudine Schneider - Green Advantage Program
Steve Bella - Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Center for State Innovation
Andrea German-Willis - Syracuse University
Presentations :
Green CRCs and Green Job Bank Presentation
Green Advantage Presentation
Click
here for more details.