GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020 - 19

GreaterReading.org

Speakers Included:
Ellen Albright, Director of Talent + Workforce
Development, GRCA; Katie Hetherington
Cunfer, Director of Government and
Community Relations, GRCA; Christy
Weitzel, Assistant Director, Office of Early
Childhood and Student Services, BCIU;
Karen Grimm-Thomas, Director of External
Relations, Pennsylvania Office of Child
Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
One Key Takeaway from this session:
Now, more than ever, COVID-19 has exacerbated inequality and childcare deserts
across the state and the nation. With an
already looming crisis in quality childcare
providers pre-COVID, it is imperative to
be advocating for better childcare systems.
Many organizations around the state and
the nation are working diligently to address
the demand for childcare, and some of the
most progressive businesses have started to
pull childcare in-house for their employees.
If you are not equipped to do so, but want to
offer your employees some "less traditional"
benefits, try one of the following: supporting
parenting skills through parent peer groups
within your company, providing parenting

workshops as personal development tools,
better supporting mental health and wellbeing
through corporate wellness plans providing
financial support/subsidies and offering
emergency childcare services, where available.

SESSION THREE-
Wednesday, July 29:
Topic: Business Leader
Feedback Forum

Speakers Included:
Ellen Albright, Director of Talent + Workforce
Development, GRCA; Katie Hetherington
Cunfer, Director of Government and
Community Relations, GRCA; Stacy
Dunleavy, Program Administrator, BCIU;
Jillian Darlington, Career Readiness + STEM
Specialist, Office of Professional Development
and Curriculum, BCIU; Connie Skipper,
Consultant.

One Key Takeaway from this session:
While very different, there are still many
The Details: This final session focused on ways to engage with students in a meaningful
feedback from employers for educators to way this school year. Traditional, on-site
ensure their concerns are captured as reopen- internships will look a lot different, but there
ing plans are determined. We wanted to are options! Virtual internships, virtual job
provide a space for open dialogue surrounding shadows/mock interviews, virtual field trips
the concerns and questions of our business are all possible and can be posted on the
owners.
Career Ready Berks platform. Want more
Additionally, participants learned about the information as you seek student-support and
Career Ready Berks platform and how it engagement this fall? Reach out to Jillian
can support real-world experiences in a new, Darlington for a deep-dive on the platform,
and she'll get you set up in no time! Email:
VIRTUAL learning environment.
jildar@Berksiu.org

GREATER
READING

BUSINESSES

Continued on next page
  19
http://www.GreaterReading.org
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020
