CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
TO ALL THOUGHT LEADERS AND INNOVATORS
IN THE WESTERN U.S.
MEETING OF THE MINDS IN MONTEREY
From Here to There
Sponsored by the California Workforce Association
September 2 - 4, 2014
Monterey Marriott Hotel
Specific submission procedures are located at the end of this document.
The Conference will feature plenary and workshop sessions in four major areas that are
broad in nature but specific in their strategic focus. Overall, Meeting of the Minds always
offers an experience that captivates the imagination of those who participate. We want
attendees to walk away with concrete ways they can change what they are doing. We
want their work to become more relevant and meaningful in meeting workforce needs.
We want them to go back home with the capacity to add more value to their work with
individual job seekers and businesses.
I. New Federal Workforce Legislation
The bi-partisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act will repeal WIA and replace it
with new authorizing language that will impact national, state and local workforce
programs, including Job Corps, Adult Education and Literacy, the Wagner-Peyser Act
and the Rehabilitation Act. The Legislation eliminates 15 programs, including the Youth
Opportunity Grants, the Workforce Innovation Fund, Community Based Job Training
Grants, as well as WIA Incentive Grants.
Although we anticipate a plenary panel that will highlight key changes in the legislation
and the implications for state, regional and local workforce systems, we would welcome
additional sessions that would “unpack” the proposed law and provide an opportunity for
discussion that would help local elected officials, WIB members and staff be better
prepared for implementing the anticipated changes. This might include: how to
reconstitute your WIB, elements of new WIB/LEO agreements, as well as other thoughts
and strategies in using the new legislation as a vehicle to take you were you want to go
(from here to there!).
II. Implementing State Level Policies and Initiatives
Three major statewide initiatives are currently in play in California, and in other states
based on the premise that regional collaborations work. These include the Slingshot
Initiative that is seeding regional efforts to increase intergenerational income mobility by
impacting big employment, education and job issues. Doing What Matters for Jobs
and the Economy that deploys Sector Navigators as points of contact with industry,
spawning greater collaboration among community colleges and other workforce partners.
And, the California Career Pathways Trust, that furthers work-based learning by
convening, connecting, measuring, or brokering efforts to establish a locally defined
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career pathways program that better connects education with business, through the
establishment of regional partnerships.
What is happening on the ground that would be useful for others working together better,
especially if you are getting real “traction” and seeing a difference. And, what other
policies have posed challenges that you’ve overcome?
III. Prototypes, Innovations, Human Centered Designs & Other Best Practices
The new legislation reinforces the need to adopt and take to scale best practices and
program designs that we know achieve better outcomes. These include industry sector
approaches, credentialing and certifications, career ladders, teaching basic skills as well
as ground breaking work with specialized populations including veterans, long term
unemployed, individuals with disabilities and more.
So, send us proposals that highlight your amazing, thoughtful, successful innovations as
well as solid, evidence-based programs happening throughout Region 6. Don’t be
stingy… share what you know works!
IV. Strategic Insights, Performance and Accountability
What does it really mean to get strategic? Who is doing it well and what does that look
like? How did you get really focused? What did you have to give up? Who helped you
get there?
And secondly, what drives high performance? What steps did you take to create your
high performing WIB? What nudges or policy changes did you establish that led to better
outcomes in your American Job Centers?
Last, since we operate in political environments that continually challenge the return on
investment, how do we build in even greater accountability into our system?
Lots of questions and we believe you have the answers and ideas that could benefit your
workforce colleagues. Please put it into our simple proposal process and share with
others.
PROPOSAL TOPICS
We are very open to any idea. In general, we want you to share and create an
experience in your session that sparks your colleagues to change how they are doing
things, rethink policies, reimagine new ways of organizing people, work flows and
networks, anything that would make the workforce system more relevant to current
realities. We would prefer not to receive proposals that are, at their core, a general
show-and-tell about your specific area.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION/ NOTIFICATION
Proposals will be accepted until Monday, June 30, 2014. Proposers are encouraged to
submit prior to that date. Proposers will be notified by email on or before Monday, July
14, 2014.
TARGET AUDIENCES
o Business, including private sector WIB members
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Trade associations representing key sectors within the California economy,
including health care, manufacturing, energy, logistics, and information
communication technology
Staff to Workforce Investment Boards
American Job Centers stafff
Educators at all levels from community colleges, adult education, K-12 and the
CSU campuses involved with Career Technical Education, Linked Learning,
credentialing and workforce preparation
Representatives from organized labor, especially those involved with
apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs
Professionals involved in economic development
Philanthropic organizations and Foundations interested in supporting workforce
solutions
Those engaged in supporting the growth of small business, self employment and
entrepreneurship
Stakeholders and collaborators involved in building strong regional economies
ANTICIPATED ATTENDANCE
Over 350 individuals will attend the Conference.
PROPOSAL ACCEPTANCE
You will be notified by Monday, July 14, 2014 as to the acceptance of your proposal.
CWA reserves the right to suggest changes to the proposal concept. Because we
receive more proposals than we can accommodate in the limited time and space
available, not all proposals will be accepted.
REGISTERING AS A PRESENTER
All presenters must register for the Conference!
We greatly appreciate the contribution our presenters make to the Conference, but CWA
cannot financially underwrite presenters’ participation. Please cooperate by abiding by
presenter registration policies. We encourage you to come, to stay, to play and to pay.
PRESENTER ONLY RATE: No Charge
I am coming only to present, and will not be participating in any other Conference
sessions or functions.
ONE DAY PRESENTER RATE: $350.
I am attending other Conference sessions and functions but only on the day of my
presentation.
FULL CONFERENCE PRESENTER RATE: $500.
Includes three-day access to all Conference sessions and meals. Yes, it includes the
beach party and BBQ.
HOTEL VENUE
Monterey Marriott
350 Calle Principal
Monterey, California 93940
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Phone: 1-831-649-4234; Fax: 1-831-372-2968
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Presenters are responsible for their own hotel reservations.
Marriott Reservations
Special CWA rate is $152.00 for Single/Double***
Mention the CWA Conference to reserve a room at the discounted rate.
Hotel Cutoff Date is Friday, August 8th.
***We reserve a block of rooms at a reduced conference rate (regular rooms run well
over $225). After the block is filled, you will have to pay a premium price for rooms (if
available) or locate lodging elsewhere. CWA has no designated overflow hotels. Make
reservations early to avoid problems.
Contact John Baker, 512-302-0436, Email: corefactors@gmail.com with any questions.
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Meeting of the Minds in Monterey 2014
PRESENTER SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
SEND an email to John Baker, Conference Curator at: corefactors@gmail.com
Subject line: MMM: Proposal Title (inserted)
ATTACH your proposal to the email. Follow the outline below.
Please compose the document using Century Gothic 11 Point Font with simple
formatting. Refrain from using ALL CAPS, bold, italics or underlining or exclamation
points!!! No headers, footers, boxes etc. Please, just simple text.
PROPOSAL OUTLINE
Proposed Session Title
Draft Session Description
Describe what will be covered in the session. Imagine you are an attendee deciding
what is relevant to your learning. (be concise, approximately 75 words or less)
Presenter(s) Name, Title, Affiliation, Email, Phone (include for each presenter)
e.g. John B. Good, Director, Project Hope, hope@kmail.com , 800-555-1212
Why this is important to share with others? (one sentence)
How you are measuring success/ performance/ impact/ outcomes?
Region (if applicable, and however you want to define it.)
AV Needs (all rooms are equipped with LCD, screen and power strip)
LCD Projector for PPT: ( ) with sound ( )
Flip Chart: ( )
INTERNET: ( )
( ) Yes, I am aware of the need for all presenters to register, and for presenters to pay
conference registration fees if attending any other part of the Conference.
Thanks very much for your interest in presenting in Meeting of the Minds and your desire
to share important successes and learnings with others. You will hear back from me by
Monday, July 14, 2014.
John D. Baker, CWA Conference Curator
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