What could Charlotte have done differently to avoid the soaring job losses we’re seeing now?
We didn’t prepare our work force for the jobs of the future. This economic recession isn’t just about foreclosures and bank problems, but in part, it’s about our failure to train for today’s jobs. We need to be more intentional about training for jobs that will lead us in the future. We’ve been on autopilot for too long. How do we do that? We have to be willing to take risks with our education. We need to put more curriculum in place that focuses on new technologies. We need to partner more with deeply entrenched organizations that have built trust within the communities. And as a community we need to become more about empowering people. I see a need to build on the strengths we have in the field of education and health care. But I also think entrepreneurship is going to be key for us. Small businesses still employ the most people. If we focus too much on big companies, we risk losing sight of the small people with the big ideas who make this country run. It’s been well-reported that t
