Connecting Adults to Post-Secondary and Workforce Success

What in the world was I doing in Washington, D.C.? Let me explain. 

Abilene is one of four cities chosen to participate in a national-level cohort focused on bringing accessibility to post-secondary education for adult learners to build a better workforce for the here and now. 

The cohort's overarching purpose is to help cities connect adults with post-secondary educational opportunities that lead to good jobs, especially those who have some college education but still need to complete a credential. The NLC and CAEL will provide technical assistance to a Municipal Action Cohort of four cities: Abilene, Texas; LaBelle, Florida; Tampa, Florida; and Waco, Texas.

The Municipal Action Cohort has emerged as a pioneering initiative in a concerted effort to connect adults (ages 25-45) to post-secondary educational opportunities and workforce success. This program, driven by the collaboration of the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), will significantly impact these participating cities. 

Funded by private education foundations, the cohort’s mission is to enable cities to reconnect adults with education and career pathways, leading to economic mobility and community prosperity.

Team Abilene has formed a robust team that includes the Foundation and these community partners: Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Cisco College, City of Abilene, and Collegiate EduNation (CEN). Through this cohort, Abilene’s team is focused on building a collaborative effort to increase access to and completion of post-secondary education for West-Central Texas residents. 

Team Abilene’s motto is “Empowering People, Inspiring Communities.” This inspiring message reaffirms the commitment to seeing adult learners persevere, complete their education, find higher-wage employment, and give back to their communities. Their journey is envisioned as #EPIC.

During our team’s visit to Washington, the NLC and CAEL teams created an invaluable space for learning and strategy development. Hearing from a panel of single-parent students, participants gained insights into the challenges faced by adult learners, including the lack of resources and the struggle with time poverty. These personal stories underscored the need for a supportive and flexible educational system to accommodate adult learners' diverse needs. NLC and CAEL team members will walk alongside Team Abilene to bring technical assistance over the next 18 months to build a successful program.  

With Cisco College's rural roots, Collegiate EduNation’s rural focus, and CFA's rural initiative, we acknowledge that resources in rural communities in our region have been limited and untapped for years. The #EPIC journey will extend beyond Abilene's city limits. Our Abilene team is committed to collaborating with experts across the US to provide valuable educational resources to adults who aim to break the cycle of generational poverty and strengthen our region.

— by Meagan Harris, CFA rural grants manager