CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas is hosting the region’s first Opportunity Youth Workforce Summit on Tuesday, October 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The summit will bring education, business, and nonprofit leaders together to focus on young adults in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties who are disconnected from employment and education. The summit will serve as a regional think tank, fostering discussions and developing solutions to reengage these young people in the local economy.
Gary Hartfield, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, leader, author, and philanthropist currently serving as CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas board treasurer, will emcee the event.
“We can all look back on our experiences in our late teens and early twenties and recognize the valuable lessons we learned from teachers, classmates, bosses, and coworkers that prepared us for where we are today. Thousands of young people in our community are on track to lose out on those experiences, with enormous consequences for their futures, if we don’t intervene,” said Hartfield.
Who are the “opportunity youth”?
Federal agencies define “opportunity youth” as people between 16 and 24 who are disconnected from school and work. CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas conducted research in 2023 and found 26,100 young people who meet this criteria. It’s part of a nationwide trend recognized in Public Health Reports for the risk this societal disconnection poses to their emotional, behavioral, and physical health. Beyond the consequences for them individually, young people who are disconnected from employment and education “also represent a loss of human capital, with high social and economic costs.”
The Opportunity Youth Workforce Summit will provide attendees with insights into Tampa Bay workforce trends centered around these young people. Experts will share research on population growth in the region, and businesses will have the opportunity to discuss target populations to meet their workforce needs.
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“After our two counties merged workforce development services earlier this summer, CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas is taking our first bold leap to address a community challenge with our combined resources,” said Sean Butler. He’s Chief People Officer at Titan Technologies and board chair of CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas. “As someone who has spent my career in human resources, I know that opportunity youth are in a critical window to develop skills and receive training that will prepare them for successful, independent futures. We don’t have a moment to lose if we hope to make the most of their talent and potential.”
The event will be held at the Tampa Marriott Water Street in downtown Tampa. From 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on October 1.
Attendees should register online.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available to businesses and organizations interested in supporting this effort. Sponsorship packages are available online.