Ayesha George on Workforce Pathways, Equity, and Scaling Opportunity in New York City

Degan Mercado Leopold on Building Better Talent Pipelines

"Don’t ask what’s needed of you. Find the need and fulfill it.” That idea has shaped Degan Mercado Leopold’s career across social impact, public service, diversity recruiting, philanthropy, politics, and now her work as Chief Partnerships Officer at the New York Jobs CEO Council. In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg Morris sits down with Degan to talk about what it takes to build a workforce system that creates real pathways to opportunity - not just one-off connections. The conversation explores the role of the New York Jobs CEO Council as an employer-led intermediary working across business, education, and talent development. Degan talks about CUNY, New York City Public Schools, work-based learning, internships, early-career hiring, and why public talent pipelines are essential to New York City’s economic future. Greg and Degan also dig into the human side of systems change: the durable skills that often go unnamed, the role of identity and belonging in accessing opportunity, why employer engagement should be treated as core economic infrastructure, and what it will take to build a more coordinated workforce system that gives more New Yorkers real access, real support, and real choices about what comes next. Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkPublished by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition Topics: New York Jobs CEO Council; workforce development; economic mobility; public-private partnerships; employer engagement; CUNY; New York City Public Schools; career-connected learning; internships; talent pipelines; durable skills; systems change; New York City

Jeffrey LeFrancois on Public Space, Neighborhood Stewardship, and Inclusive Economic Corridors

What does it take to build a neighborhood people want to be part of? In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg Morris sits down with Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association, for a wide-ranging conversation about civic life, economic development, housing, public space, politics, and the many ways New Yorkers build power by showing up. Jeffrey reflects on the path that brought him into public service and the conversation explores how relationships, persistence, local institutions, and civic engagement shape what is possible in a city as complex as New York. Greg and Jeffrey talk about the role of community boards, political clubs, campaigns, housing plans, land use, and why losing can teach you how to fight harder for the wins that matter. They also dig into the evolution of the Meatpacking District - from its history as a working market and meat processing hub to its present-day mix of public plazas, historic architecture, restaurants, retail, museums, tech, fashion, nightlife, and nearly 15 million annual visitors. Jeffrey shares how he thinks about public space as an economic development tool, why foot traffic and dwell time matter, and how streetscape projects, cultural institutions, tourism, and major events like the World Cup can help strengthen New York City’s economy. Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition Topics: Meatpacking District; business improvement districts; economic development; workforce development; public space; civic engagement; community boards; housing; land use; affordable housing; political clubs; campaigns; neighborhood change; tourism; small business; retail; hospitality; public realm; streetscape; Manhattan; New York City; World Cup; civic leadership; local government; community building

Jennifer Mitchell on Housing, Reentry, and the Future of Workforce Development

“A room and a job to pay for it.” That line has shaped The Doe Fund’s work for nearly 40 years, and in this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Greg Morris [https://nycetc.org/team/gregory-j-morris/] sits down with Jennifer Mitchell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-mitchell-829b265], President and CEO of The Doe Fund [https://www.doe.org/], to talk about why that idea still matters and what it looks like in practice today. Jen traces the path that brought her to this work: growing up in a family grounded in service, joining the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, discovering workforce development, spending 12 years at The Doe Fund, leading programs at The HOPE Program, and eventually returning to The Doe Fund as President and CEO. The conversation explores the model behind Ready, Willing & Able, The Doe Fund’s signature program supporting men experiencing homelessness through transitional housing, paid work, training, structure, and community. Jen talks about why work can be transformative, why housing is foundational, and why the people closest to the work — including graduates, credible messengers, and staff with lived experience — are essential to building programs that actually meet people where they are. Greg and Jen also dig into the future-facing parts of the work: green jobs, rain gardens, HVAC, solar, climate resilience, supportive and affordable housing, AI, city contracting challenges, and what it means for human services organizations to prepare people for a labor market that is changing in real time. Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition Topics: The Doe Fund; Ready, Willing & Able; workforce development; homelessness; transitional housing; affordable housing; supportive housing; economic mobility; human services; green jobs; climate resilience; rain gardens; HVAC; solar; AI; nonprofit leadership; lived experience; credible messengers; New York City; public service; city contracting

Angie Kamath on Mid-Career Mobility, Career-Connected Education, and Economic Opportunity

Greg [https://nycetc.org/team/gregory-j-morris/] sits down with Angie Kamath [https://www.sps.nyu.edu/about/nyu-sps-angie-kamath.html], Dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_school_nyu-2Dschool-2Dof-2Dprofessional-2Dstudies_&d=DwMFaQ&c=slrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ&r=OaKW1Qv_XhVV_aBFr5GoeQ&m=nnuAlIgeqFhqsyucBLOafSahWNzHlLmgAIzD5hAUZMYCkR_5bcGoujN6qn5m2Chh&s=Iz5Od-HFPnID5kwchPG5d85hxymrUjBxAbIgGRhZ8Ag&e=], for a conversation about career pivots, higher education, workforce systems, and what it really means to keep growing in a changing economy. Angie brings a career path that spans the private sector, nonprofit leadership, New York City government, CUNY, and NYU, and with it, a deeply practical view of how people move through work, get stuck, start over, and find new momentum. She reflects on her early days in banking, her first workforce role at StreetWise Partners, her time leading Per Scholas New York, and her years at the Department of Small Business Services during moments of crisis and recovery for the city. At the center of the conversation is Sidetracked: The Hidden Crisis in Mid-Career Professional Economic Mobility [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6197797102be715f55c0e0a1/t/6a188d7fca504d1b103d1a66/1779993983643/Sidetracked_04072026_v2May.pdf], a new report from NYU SPS and the Burning Glass Institute examining why so many mid-career workers experience career stall.  and why that stall is a structural problem, not a personal failure. Angie and Greg unpack what the report reveals about wage growth, title progression, skills, job changes, and the interventions that can help workers keep moving forward. They also discuss the role of higher education in an era of rising costs and shifting expectations, the importance of short-term and targeted training, the value of first jobs, the danger of tracking young people too early, and why lifelong learning has to become a normal part of working life. Along the way, they talk City Bikes, marathons, public speaking, social media, leadership, AI, career navigation, immigrant-family expectations, the Knicks, and the simple reminder that if you feel stuck, you are not alone. Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition Topics: workforce development; economic mobility; NYU School of Professional Studies; Burning Glass Institute; Sidetracked report; mid-career workers; career stall; higher education; career pathways; lifelong learning; upskilling; reskilling; public administration; AI; leadership; job mobility

Ayesha George on Workforce Pathways, Equity, and Scaling Opportunity in New York City

Greg sits down with Ayesha George [https://strive.org/ayesha-george-1], Executive Director of STRIVE New York [https://strive.org/], [https://strive.org/] for a conversation about leadership, second chances, career pathways, and the deeply human work of helping New Yorkers move toward economic mobility. Ayesha shares how her journey began in Michigan, where athletics opened a door to college and helped shape the discipline, competitiveness, and resilience that continue to guide her work today. She reflects on the throughline of her professional life: connecting people to opportunity, helping families and communities navigate systems, and making sure individuals have the support they need to keep moving forward. The conversation explores STRIVE’s approach to workforce development, including career readiness, occupational credentials, job placement, wellness supports, and lifetime support for graduates. Greg and Ayesha also discuss STRIVE’s work with New Yorkers facing significant barriers to employment, including justice-impacted individuals, young adults, underemployed workers, and people reentering the workforce after long periods away. Ayesha highlights the importance of employer partnerships, especially in healthcare, construction, and maintenance, and talks about STRIVE’s expanding work in Brooklyn . Along the way, they talk basketball, pandemic-era lessons, nonprofit leadership, government funding, unions, wage equity, and why workforce development must be treated as a core part of New York City’s economic future. Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition Topics: workforce development; economic mobility; STRIVE; STRIVE New York; reentry; justice-impacted individuals; career readiness; job training; occupational training; wraparound supports