About
2025 Showcase Luncheon
Are these challenges on your mind?
- Critical workforce talent shortages that threaten our region’s economic future.
- Crushing student loan debt for young people, often without earning a diploma.
- Crippling anxiety in youth who feel unprepared and uncertain about life after high school.
The solution seems straightforward but is often overlooked: dedicating time and resources to Career Awareness and Preparation (CAP).
Yet, this work is too often relegated to “stolen moments” squeezed between other responsibilities. Few organizations have staff explicitly dedicated to mentoring school-aged students about career possibilities.
Instead, we tend to assume someone else is handling it.
Some are. Many individuals and organizations make heroic efforts, but these are frequently part-time commitments, often taken on at the expense of other duties. As a result, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s needed to address the actual demand.
In Central Pennsylvania, the situation is even more challenging. While our larger metropolitan neighbors to the east and west often benefit from better resources and transportation, we struggle to meet the needs of our region with limited means.
This is where the Partnership for Career Development (PCD) steps in.
With the support and guidance of the Cradle to Career Alliance, PCD has become the driving force behind collaborative, systemic solutions. We work to bridge the gap between workforce and education, building a cohesive network that strengthens our collective efforts.
- We connect the dots—linking businesses, schools, and organizations with programs, events, and resources that make a tangible difference.
- We convene partners regularly to align priorities, share insights, and create efficiencies that benefit everyone.
- We are a catalyst for action, ensuring that the good work being done is sustained and amplified across our region.
In South Central PA, the need is clear: by pooling our resources, bandwidth, and capacity, we can build a stronger, more prepared workforce—and a brighter future for the students at the heart of it all.
