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Project

Inclusive Regional Economic Development

JFF designs place-based strategies to advance economic opportunity through activation of cross-sector networks and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

May 20, 2019

At a Glance

JFF designs place-based strategies to advance economic opportunity through activation of cross-sector networks and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

While the economy is working for some, many people, especially those within historically marginalized groups, aren’t benefitting. Across the country, many states, regions, and local communities are struggling economically, while others prosper. Rising income inequality, wage stagnation, and disparities in health and housing limit opportunities to learn, work, and gain economic mobility. To make matters worse, communities without skilled workers can’t attract the high-quality jobs, impactful investments, or new businesses they need to grow, perpetuating a cycle of underemployment and financial insecurity.

We can have an economy that works for everyone.

But it doesn’t have to be this way: We can have an economy that works for everyone. Americans deserve inclusive economic development—the creation of an equitable economy that everyone can contribute to and benefit from, regardless of where you are from or who you are.

Our Approach: A New Way of Spurring Economic Development

JFF focuses on building resilience and advancing shared prosperity in communities. We work in regions in California and across the country to co-design strategies that recognize the interdependence of people, places, and economic development in affecting an individual’s economic mobility.

We believe in the following principles:

  • Inclusion is needed in both process and outcome
  • Inclusive economic development can bring gains to both communities and businesses
  • Economic mobility is a product of neighborhood conditions
  • Investing in local assets makes communities more resilient

We use these categories to organize our approach to inclusive regional economic development (IRED):

  1. Place-based conditions and economic geographies like economic and racial inequalities, environmental factors, housing conditions, food scarcity, transportation access, and job concentration
  2. Economic development strategies that take into account spatial mismatch, agglomeration economies, economic dynamism, and other ongoing structural labor market shifts to build resilient cities and economies
  3. Human capital pipelines aligned with regional labor markets that are built to adapt to internal or external shocks that impact economies.

The Future Ready California Network is an open learning community of leaders working across institutional, regional, and sectoral boundaries to improve regional income and social mobility outcomes and drive inclusive regional growth. We strive to tackle complex regional challenges collaboratively while building capacity through sharing and learning and elevating emerging solutions. Moreover, we hope to turn our ideas of thinking differently about growth, people, and place into a movement for building resilience and advancing shared prosperity in communities. We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion enhance learning and fuel innovation, and we welcome leaders across California who represent diverse voices to be a part of the community and join the movement to uplift every part of the state.

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Hear from Future Ready California Network Leaders

A JFF podcast series telling stories of economic recovery from across California

Our communities have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing struggles with racial injustice. Every day, we hear reports about the crumbling economy, the skyrocketing unemployment rate, and growing inequalities. But who are the people behind the statistics? Who are the Californians who have had to work, teach, learn, and live in entirely new ways over the past year?

In our podcast series called “Communities in Recovery,” JFF elevates the voices of members of our communities who have been impacted by the economic crisis. Through their stories, we examine what it takes to recover stronger and more equitably.

Watch Our Podcast Trailer

JFF drives change in the American workforce and education systems to promote economic advancement for all. Select one of the four pillars of change to see examples of our work in action.

Design

We bring evidence-based models and innovative solutions to life.

Scale

We leverage national networks and advanced technologies to drive change in systems.

Influence

We shape policy and drive the national conversation among workforce, education, government, and corporate leaders.

Invest

We invest capital to incubate new solutions, accelerate innovation, and generate impact.

Resources and Sample Work

Post

Not Just Another College-to-Career Initiative: Advancing Equity and Economic Prosperity Through California Regional Collaboratives

Advancing Equity and Economic Prosperity Through California Regional Collaboratives

February 24, 2023
Webinar

Investing in Inclusion and Impact Across the Learner Journey

In this webinar, JFF brought together regional leaders from longstanding and early-stage cross-sector collaboratives to learn how California investments in regional college and career pathways are being leveraged to address equity gaps and drive economic…

January 20, 2023
Report/Research

What Can CBOs Teach Us About Achieving Equity in Workforce Development?

A group of community-based organizations in the Inland Empire are on a mission to shift the narrative about what it takes to do workforce development in a way that centers equity. These leaders have proposed…

November 4, 2022
Report/Research

California Workforce Framework for Regional Plan Implementation

The Framework is designed to support workforce boards in building regional data capacity to identify, coordinate, and track the impact of regional activities. In addition, the Framework outlines how workforce boards can strategically align to…

September 23, 2022
Report/Research

How Can California’s Regional Investments Catalyze Inclusive Economic Development?

California has a history of investing in regional strategies to support the educational attainment and economic growth of its many regional economies. These include the Strong Workforce Program, California Career Pathways Trust, to name a…

June 22, 2022
Report/Research

Cluster-Based, Inclusive Regional Economic Development

Cluster-based economic development can be an effective strategy for regions to generate economic growth that benefits all residents, provided that equity and inclusion are at the center of the approach. JFF explores an emerging case…

May 27, 2022
Report/Research

Reimagining an Integrated Pathway to Engineering Careers

The Fresno K-16 Collaborative is a signature initiative of the California Governor’s Council on Post-Secondary Education that aims to increase college degree attainment in high-demand industries, align educational preparation with the demands of regional employers,…

April 20, 2022
Report/Research

Co-Designing a Recovery for All: A Vision for Inclusive Regional Economic Development

A Vision for Inclusive Regional Economic Development Equitable economic growth requires inclusion at every step of the way, from how we design our education and training systems to how we use collaborative strategies and coordinated…

January 13, 2022
Report/Research

Worker-Led Research Yields a New Framework for Assessing Job Quality

JFF and Turning Basin Labs are engaged in a multiphase initiative to identify and invest in high road employment models in California. This update documents the results of Phase 1 of this project, which include…

July 12, 2021
News

Competency-Based Education After COVID-19: How Can New Models Empower Learners and Drive Economic Recovery?

Competency-based education (CBE) offers a model for flexible, outcomes-focused learning that empowers learners and provides clear signals to employers.

May 25, 2021
Report/Research

Designing Dual Enrollment to Reach English Learners

English learners have tremendous potential but too often are held back from participating in the courses that lead to postsecondary degree completion and career success. Dual enrollment can be a powerful tool to increase college…

December 22, 2020
Report/Research

Direct Assessment CBE: A Blueprint for Community College Leaders

The Blueprint is designed to support community college leaders in launching a direct assessment competency-based education (CBE) program. Direct assessment CBE requires significant changes to teaching, learning, and business operations that must be addressed strategically.…

September 11, 2020
Case Study

Transforming Systems to Achieve Better Careers for Californians: Balanced Stakeholder Relationships Lead to Innovative Workforce Development Strategies

Millions of working Californians are unable to fulfill their families’ basic needs. Higher-paying jobs that require specialized skills are beyond their reach, and many entry-level jobs are likely to be automated by 2022, so there’s…

May 21, 2020
Case Study

Better Careers for Californians: Innovations That Build the Talent Pipeline

Millions of working Californians are unable to fulfill their families’ basic needs. Automation threatens entry-level jobs while higher-paying jobs require skills that are out of reach. The state’s education and training systems must be redesigned…

January 8, 2020
Report/Research

Inclusive Economic Development: Good for Growth and Good for Communities

Many communities are embracing “inclusive economic development” as a way to address inequity that persists even as the economy grows. In an effort to spark a national conversation about the conditions needed to achieve inclusive…

January 9, 2020
Impact Story

Linked Learning Regional Hubs of Excellence

Linked Learning Regional Hubs of Excellence Strengthening communities and economies through regional collaboration to scale high-quality career pathways—helping more students gain equitable access to this practical, powerful approach. Related Content

September 15, 2023
Report/Research

Increasing Economic Mobility for Californians: Cross-Sector Networks and Leadership

JFF highlights work to increase economic advancement for youth and adults in California by creating strong, unified education and workforce systems across the state. The regional cross-sector collaboratives have focused on helping more low-income young…

February 26, 2019
Report/Research

Advancing Dual Enrollment in California

Dual enrollment has long been recognized as a powerful strategy to increase college enrollment, success, affordability. Yet compared to many other states, California has been slow to embrace this proven approach. With support from the…

October 4, 2018

Our team includes experts in the fields of education, technology, workforce systems, and economic development.

Parina Parikh

Associate Vice President

Parina Parikh is an associate vice president in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She leads JFF’s presence in California, with responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building…

Breeanna Decker

Program Manager

Breeanna Decker is a program manager specializing in inclusive regional economic development at JFF. Based in JFF’s Oakland office, she leads projects to help build an equitable and inclusive workforce for all Californians. Her skills…

Molly Dow

Senior Program Manager

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Sarah Hooker Bentley

Director

Sarah Hooker Bentley is a director in Solutions Design & Delivery at JFF. She works to improve systems alignment and close equity gaps for populations facing structural barriers in our education and workforce systems. She leads technical assistance teams facilitating…

Vanessa Vela Lovelace

Senior Director, Solutions Design & Delivery

Vanessa Vela Lovelace is a director of community development with JFF’s Inclusive Regional Economic Development team. Her skills and areas of expertise include:

Alexandra Miano

Operations Manager, Oakland

Alexandra Miano is the office manager in JFF’s Oakland, California, office. In that role, she helps manage systems, processes, and facilities and provides staff support and direct program support for JFF’s California team. She has…

Devon Miner

Associate Director

Devon Miner is an associate director at JFF. He is responsible for integrating educational opportunities, workforce initiatives, and economic partnerships to help adults move into and through postsecondary education and into quality jobs that pay…

Joel Vargas

Vice President

Joel Vargas is vice president of the Education practice at JFF, overseeing programs focused on improving learning systems and outcomes. He was previously vice president of programs and launched our West Coast office in 2015.…