Lancaster County Workforce Development Board

Congratulations to Dr. Sharee Livingston of Patients R Waiting on receiving the Lancaster Chamber's Athena Award!

In celebrating her achievement, we want to highlight one of her organization's greatest accomplishments. Dr. Livingston is the co-founder of the Diversifying Doulas Initiative — a program that trains doulas from Black and Brown communities to provide care that truly reflects the families they serve. In just five years, DDI has trained over 100 certified doulas and supported more than 400 families of color across Pennsylvania. They're also a state-recognized apprenticeship program, proving that with the right people and the right support, anything is possible!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Livingston on this well-deserved recognition!

In less than 3 weeks, our annual Educator Industry Tours kick off!
Over 3 packed days, educators across 16 school districts will go behind the scenes with employers from our region's top employment sectors — hearing directly from industry experts and experiencing a range of career pathways hands-on.
The educators who spend every day in classrooms inspiring our students will get to see these careers up close. When teachers can speak from real experience, students get a clearer picture of the opportunities waiting for them right here in Lancaster County.
We can't wait to get started — and a huge thank you to the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 for being such a steadfast partner in making this initiative possible year after year.

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. To our veterans, military families, and all those who carry the memory of a loved one lost, we thank you.

‼Please note our updated hours:
Today — Closing early at 12:30 PM
Monday, May 26 — Closed in observance of Memorial Day

Today we celebrate Kim Lam, our Communications Coordinator, on graduating from Leadership Lancaster! 🎉

Watching Kim navigate challenges, embrace growth, and continue showing up with determination and positivity has been inspiring. She has demonstrated what a true looks like through leaning into new experiences, building connections, pushing beyond comfort zones, and continuously growing both personally and professionally.

Leadership is not just about titles. It is about resilience, curiosity, courage, and the willingness to keep learning. Kim has embodied all of that throughout this journey, and we are so proud of her accomplishment.

Congratulations, Kim! Lancaster is better because of leaders like you. 💙

The Innovators Quest is on the road!

This week, our PA CareerLink Lancaster County Youth team brought The Manufacturing Institute 's Innovators Quest to 6th–8th graders at Garden Spot Middle School — a gamified STEM experience where students explored manufacturing careers through hands-on challenges in robotics, aerospace, additive manufacturing, and more, all while building teamwork and problem-solving skills.

A big thank you to Ms. Heather Helsel for inviting us in! We can't wait to bring this to more kids across Lancaster County.
👩‍🏫 Teachers, youth leaders, or parents — want Innovators Quest for your students? Message us at [email protected] or tag a teacher friend who'd love this!

Running a business can feel lonely. In Lancaster County, it doesn't have to.

Long hours, hard decisions, tight margins — every business owner knows the weight of going it alone. But here's what makes this county different: a community built to lift local businesses up. Organizations like the Lancaster Chamber and ASSETS are working every day to connect owners with the services, funding, and networks that turn "just getting by" into real growth.

Join PA CareerLink Lancaster County for a conversation with two of the leaders driving that work:
🔸Heather Valudes, President & CEO, Lancaster Chamber
🔸Maia McCauley, CEO, ASSETS Lancaster
Discover what becomes possible when you stop building alone.

Register: http://tinyurl.com/employerwork

May is — a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community here in Lancaster County.

Our AANHPI community is strong and growing, shaping our local economy, small business landscape, and the cultural fabric of this region. We're grateful for organizations like Lancaster Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders - LAAPI and the community leaders who continue to build connection and advocate for AANHPI residents across the county.

Workforce development is strongest when every community has a voice in shaping it. Decisions about career pathways, employment services, and economic opportunity affect everyone — and those decisions are better, fairer, and more effective when AANHPI perspectives are part of the conversation.

This month (and every month), we recommit to listening to, learning from, and partnering with the AANHPI community to ensure that workforce development in Lancaster reflects the people it's meant to serve.

Happy AANHPI Heritage Month, Lancaster.

Calling all young people, and anyone who works with youth in Lancaster County — we want to hear from you. 📣

We're hosting a roundtable conversation about youth workforce development, and the future of work for young people in our community. The goal? To make sure every young person in Lancaster has a clear, supported pathway into a good career — right here at home.

This won't just be a room full of officials. Young workers, employers, educators, and community members will all be at the table — because the people closest to young people are the ones who know what they need. Let's build a stronger, inclusive workforce, together.

👉 RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/Youth-Workforce-Roundtable
For questions, contact Mark Nicastre at [email protected]

So proud of our staff at PA CareerLink Lancaster County for organizing such an incredible event. A huge thank you to The Cheat Code authors, Armand King and Jonas Royster, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for reentrants, and for your enthusiasm in returning to Lancaster County.