On October 28, residents joined Council Member Ora Houston and the Austin Chamber for a community Town Hall on workforce and education in the region.

As of September 2017, nearly 33,300 individuals are unemployed and actively seeking employment in Travis County. While 50 percent of the available jobs posted require at least an associate’s degree or more.

Residents also listened to a moderated panel on education and workforce programs pertaining to the district. Panelists Anabel Garza, Principal of Austin ISD; Shelia L. Henry Principal of Austin ISD; Bishop Sterling Lands, Senior Pastor of Greater Calvary Bible Church; Brent Perdue of Balcones Recycling; and Wayne Knox of Huston-Tillotson University pertaining to unemployment, inequity in the region, educational attainment of residents, and the need of workforce skills.

“We live in one of the fastest growing cities in America, that said we need to be prepared for tomorrow,” said Tina Grider-Cannon, Senior Director of Governmental Relations for the Austin Chamber of Commerce. “The purpose of this town hall is to see what we can do collectively together to continue to build all of our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for residents.”

The discussion was held in the Asian American Resource Center. For more information on upcoming Austin Chamber Town Halls, contact Tina Grider-Cannon, Senior Director of Local Government Relations, at tcannon@austinchamber.com.

Pictured: Tina Grider-Cannon (right) moderates panel on workforce and education during the District 1 Town Hall.