Session Recordings & Resources

ACE-UP Session Recordings & Resources

The following is a gallery of recordings and resources from previous ACE-UP group meetings. Feel free to use and share for the benefit of advancing community equity.

Collecting and Reporting Feedback to Improve Learners’ Academic and Employment Outcomes

Megan Elyse Williams and Rachel Whilby

February 26, 2025

At our June in-person meeting, teams engaged in a “sailboat” activity, identifying obstacles to effective data-driven decision-making. This session is designed to directly address those challenges and explore actionable solutions that can be operationalized within your institutions. Discussion occurs throughout the presentation tackling the specific challenges you’re facing.

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Video Recording

Session Resources

Centering Worker Voice in Employer Engagement and Program Design
Make Decisions With Us, Not About Us
With Learners, Not For Learners
An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Research
Focus Group Overview
Best Practices in Research and Evaluation: Focus Groups

Advancing Opportunities Using Labor Market Intelligence

Steven Partridge

January 25, 2025

In this session, Steven Partridge shared current strategies and resources from Northern Virginia Community College, touching on topics like employer partnerships, data-driven program alignment, NOVA’s guaranteed interview initiative, and innovative pathways to support workforce success for non-traditional students. Steven Partridge is vice president of Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). In his role he leads the NOVA’s corporate and workforce engagement, non-credit education, marketing, branding and communication teams, career services, grant development, event services and institutional research. Partridge has testified before Congress and the U.S. Senate regarding the national skills gap and regularly consults with Congressional and Administration staff on workforce issues.

Video Recording

ACE-UP Employer Affinity Group: What Employers Need to Know to Access Diverse Talent

Carniesha Kwashie

August 12, 2024

The ACE-UP Employer Affinity Group meeting featured Carniesha Kwashie, Sr. Manager of Workforce Development, Corporate and Community Impact at PECO, in a session titled “What Employers Need to Know to Access Diverse Talent.” She discussed how PECO partners with education and training providers, offers learner supports, and invests in people and community to achieve the organization’s talent management goals. Additionally, Carniesha shared the organizational practices and apprenticeship models that have proven successful, offering practical strategies for employers looking to enhance their workforce development and attract diverse talent.

Video Recording

Bridging Workforce Gaps: A Model of Equitable Partnership

Celeste Granger with Melissa Stowasser

February 28, 2024

Celeste Granger presents insights into how aligning college offerings with attainable career pathways—informed by employer feedback—fosters upward mobility for workers. Furthermore, Celeste’s data-driven approach to addressing equity gaps underscores the importance of informed program design and strategic investments. By leveraging data to target underpaid roles and develop clear advancement routes, her initiative exemplifies how focusing on equity within robust industry partnerships can drive systemic reform. Discussion is accompanied by Melissa Stowasser, Vice President for Community & Continuing Education at Trident Technical College.

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Video Recording

Session Resources

Employer Collaborative First Meeting
Collaborative Critical Needs Assessment Survey

Leading the Way: Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the NC Community College System

Keisha Jones

February 28, 2024

Step into the world of transformative leadership with Keisha Jones, a leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIB), sharing insights into her role within the NC Community College System. This session delves into the journey of championing DEIB initiatives at both the system-wide level and the college level, specifically at Davidson-Davie Community College. Discover the strategies, challenges, and successes that have shaped a more inclusive and equitable educational experience across campuses.

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Video Recording

Beyond Box Checking: Making Equity Metrics Relevant

Megan Elyse Williams

December 4, 2023

Building on previous ACE-UP conversations on metrics and equity, Megan Elyse Williams shares insights on ensuring metrics actually reflect and serve learner populations and communities.

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Video Recording

More than a DEI Label: Using Measurement for Our Own Racially Equitable Accountability

Dr. Heather McCambly

August 9, 2023

Dr. McCambly studies the role of organizations in (re)producing systemic, racial inequalities, and draws on a range of analytic and interpretive methods to study the influence of aspiring change agents on institutionalized racial inequities in higher education practice and policy.

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Video Recording

Recruit, Retain, Advance: Employer-of-Choice Strategies for Equity & Community Growth

Dave Barrett

June 28, 2023

Dave Barrett describes employer-of-choice strategies designed to recruit, retain and advance a diverse workforce. He also provides examples of ways colleges can best engage employers in conversations on equity and retention, what colleges can do to support learner advancement from an employer’s perspective, and ways to develop strategic partnerships between colleges and employers.

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Video Recording

It’s An Inside Job: Conversations about DEI at the Intersection of our Heads and Hearts

Professor Natasha Robinson

April 26, 2023

Professor Robinson discusses the intersection and transformation of our heads and our hearts as it relates to doing DEI work. Combining the law, focal questions, answers, and metrics with practical strategies, Professor Robinson co-created personalized and communal solutions with attendees that enhance and strengthen DEI substantive objectives and procedural outcomes.

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Video Recording