Over 60 community members, elected officials and stakeholders gathered at the historic Rosenwald School on the Prentiss Institute campus for the second informative Lunch and Learn event titled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Workforce Development but Were Afraid to Ask.”

This special event featured leaders from education, government and industry, all working toward building a stronger workforce pipeline.

Yurij Wowczuk of CMI2 served as keynote speaker, officially announcing the grant funding from DRA that will help launch the ILLUME Program in Jefferson Davis County. The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2), a defense innovation nonprofit is establishing its transformative ILLUME Program in Jefferson Davis County to help students in economically challenged areas focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational opportunities.

Backed by a grant from the APEX Energy Bluestown Solar Project and presented by JDC Economic Development District, this event featured a diverse panel of workforce experts including representatives from the Delta Regional Authority, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development, Pearl River Community College, AccelerateMS and Jefferson Davis County’s Career and Technical Education programs.

A unique feature of the event was the “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” game sponsored by Ferguson Federal Credit Union.

Attendees were invited to vote on the workforce development areas they felt were most critical by placing money in containers representing six different priorities, with the first letter of each priority spelling out ILLUME:

Innovating, the need for programs that prepare workers for jobs that don’t exist yet, AI, robotics, green energy and emerging industries; Learning, making sure everyone has access to upskilling, re-skilling and literacy support no matter their background or age; Leading, leadership development programs should start early and reach across sectors, especially for underrepresented groups; Uniting, workforce solutions work best when schools, employers, training providers, and nonprofits collaborate with shared goals; Making, the need for more maker spaces, mobile labs and apprenticeships where people can learn by doing and Experimenting, trying bold ideas like stipends for training, job trials, mobile learning units or gamified career exploration.

After deciphering where the money went, Making was the overall winner by far with $4.29. Experimenting was the big loser with only .69 cents collected. The other three were right in the middle with $2.40 to $2.60.

Participants were provided a complimentary lunch catered by Dampeer’s Family Restaurant served in a keepsake cooler bag.

The Lunch and Learn series is for enlightening the community on what’s going on behind the scenes in facets of economic development in Jefferson Davis County. The next Lunch and Learn will be Everything You Wanted to Know About Downtown Revitalization sponsored by a grant from Entergy.