Education and Workforce Development

Education & Workforce Development​

As of 2023, the global workforce faces significant shifts due to technological advancements and economic transformations, with estimates suggesting that over 40% of workers may need to upskill or reskill to adapt to changing job requirements and roles driven by automation and digitalization. Researching workforce development is crucial for understanding the evolving needs of industries and the skills required for future jobs. It helps in designing effective training programs, educational curricula, and policies that can enhance workforce productivity, reduce unemployment, and promote economic growth. C2C researchers are tackling these questions across multiple industries: life sciences, childcare, the green economy and more. We center this work around promoting equity and improving our communities in the process. Young people who are employed tend to have improved economic prospects and opportunities for personal development. C2C research has highlighted this, finding increases in grades, improved high school graduation rates, and reductions in violent crime. The youth workforce, however, currently faces unprecedented challenges as the economy evolves in response to globalization and technological development. C2C researchers both investigate and co-create programs with our communities to give youth and adults a better chance at succeeding in today’s workforce.

Check out our new and ongoing projects below, or get in touch if you have a research question you want answered.​

New Projects​

Juliana Spahr: Who Gets to Be a Writer? Studying Equity in Contemporary US Literature​

• This project is a foundational inquiry into the mechanics of literary production and an attempt to better understand the historical trajectories of authorship, prestige, institutional forces, publishing, and circulation that have a significant impact on both literary aesthetics and access across the late twentieth century into the present. ​

Carol Theokary: The Equity Toll of “Business as Usual” during the Pandemic: Can we do better?​

• This study investigates whether private sector enterprises that utilize these approaches potentially contribute to the growing inequities between the affluent vs. underserved consumer groups. Using the example of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic, we uncover that the allocation of scarce resources by private companies did not serve the pressing needs of small business owners in socio-economically disadvantaged communities.​

Louisa Smith: Impact evaluation of Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Law on Postpartum Individuals​

• This project pilots a survey to evaluate the impact of Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law on postpartum individuals. Recognizing the law’s potential to enhance health and economic outcomes for families, particularly in the context of Maine’s demographic shifts and rural health disparities, this study aims to inform rulemaking and ensure equitable benefit distribution.​

Michael Wilczek: Creating Awareness of Life Science Careers for Rural Communities in Maine​

• This project will use augmented reality technology to help high school students throughout Maine understand biological concepts and techniques that are key to life science careers such as: polymerase chain reaction, protein quantification assays, and gel electrophoresis. The embedded partnership with Jobs for Maine Graduates will illustrate how these classroom fundamentals build onramps to STEM careers and support Maine’s comprehensive economic development plan to recruit and retain talent.​

Omar Badreldin: Analyzing Existing Data to Justify Recent Policy Changes in Zoning in Ontario, Canada​

• The goal of this project is to develps a series of AI workshops for high school students and teachers in collaboration with VentureKids in Toronto. Graduating students will collaborate with the Statistics Canada team to apply their skills to contemporary public policy challenges. The students will apply their learning and perform analysis and data predictions. ​

Michael Wilczek: Creating Awareness of Life Science Careers for Rural Communities in Maine​

• This project will use augmented reality technology to help high school students throughout Maine understand biological concepts and techniques that are key to life science careers such as: polymerase chain reaction, protein quantification assays, and gel electrophoresis. The embedded partnership with Jobs for Maine Graduates will illustrate how these classroom fundamentals build onramps to STEM careers and support Maine’s comprehensive economic development plan to recruit and retain talent.​

Ongoing Projects

Joan Fitzgerald: An Initiative to Create Green Technology Career Ladders in Boston & Oakland​

• The goal of this project is to examine green economy career ladder programs around the country to determine what works and what doesn’t. In collaboration with community organizations, high schools, community colleges, and universities, this project will develop at least one green technology career ladder program in both Boston and Oakland to serve youth in frontline communities. ​

Nneka N. Allen-Harrison: Bay Area Black Voices: Employment Outcomes of the Black Labor Force in The San Francisco Bay Area​

• To investigate employment trends of Black labor force in SF Bay Area and how empowerment learning can help improve economic outcomes for Black-identifying individuals. ​

Adam Parker: Care Can’t Wait​

• The goal of this research is to look at the programs that California has implemented with ARPA funds for the Home and Community Based Services efforts to see if there was improvement in caregiver satisfaction, quality of life, and access to beneficial knowledge.​

Adaora Ubaka: Determining the Organizational Social Conditions That Enable Leaders to Surpass Precarious Leadership Roles​

• The goal of this project is to conduct a study that captures the experiences of employees working at the Y of Greater Boston through a survey. ​

Alicia Modestino: Improving Job Quality in the Childcare Sector: Assessing the JVS Job Quality Benchmarking Index​

• The goal of this project was to assess the use of JVS Boston’s Job Quality Benchmarking Index (JQBI); a tool that employers can use to measure the quality of their positions against their peers. It provides recommendations to employers for specific areas of improvement across 5 pillars: Wages, Benefits, Scheduling, Access to Career Ladders, and Supportive Environment. The evaluation included insights drawn from a series of qualitative interviews conducted with JVS Boston employer partners and their employees. The resulting report highlighted the strengths of the JQBI as well as recommendations for its future expanded use across other industries.​

Cliff Lee: Creative Industry Pathway and the Future of Oakland​

• This project evaluates the impact of creative industry pathway programs in the Oakland school system. Partnering with Civic Design Studio, the goal of the study is to better understand how we can support workforce development efforts for youth and introduce them to various mediums of design through public art projects.​

Beth Molnar​

• The goal of this project is to develop innovative technological tools to help decrease gaps in screening, referrals, and services for parents in need of family partners for assistance in raising children with health/mental health difficulties. This project is user-centered, with a participatory design approach to help enhance and personalize care coordination and family support.​

Alicia Modestino: Summer Youth Employment ​

• Dr. Modestino’s ongoing work with the City of Boston supporting their youth summer job program research has resulted in a report which details the positive short- and long-term outcomes of the program. ​