Celebrating Denver’s Impact through the New Skills Ready Initiative
August 12, 2025
Education-to-career pathways in Denver are stronger and more accessible thanks to a five-year collaboration across education, industry, and policy sectors fueled by the New Skills ready network, an initiative launched by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2020.
Rooted in a shared belief that every learner should have opportunities to acquire the skills and real-world experiences needed to thrive in a high-value, in-demand career, the results of our partnership speak for themselves:
- 52% increase in participation in industry-aligned career pathways
- 5x increase in completion of industry-recognized credentials
- 15% increase in participation in industry-aligned work-based learning experiences
At the heart of this progress was our partners’ shared commitment to collaboration, with The Attainment Network serving as a neutral intermediary to support our K–12, higher education, and workforce partners’ strategic alignment on shared goals. Acting as a bridge between priorities, we helped translate across sectors, navigate competing demands, and sustain the focus needed to drive meaningful change.
Our work didn't happen in isolation. Throughout this journey we have been grateful for the opportunity to explore innovative ideas, share breakthrough strategies, and troubleshoot challenges between all our partners and with our New Skills ready network peers in five other cities.
We are proud to have helped shepherd this work – and grateful to our partners who are dedicated to ensuring every learner can build a career that supports their family and leads to lasting economic mobility and success.
Our momentum is strong and our work continues. We look forward to working with our partners to continue building opportunities for learners to access pathways to meaningful, high-value careers.
Read more about Denver’s progress
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We’re feeling the August energy – and it’s not just from the sunshine and farmers market bounty. As we get ready for the start of a new school year, we’re excited about the growing momentum across our beautiful state to reimagine education-to-workforce systems that truly work for learners and earners. This month, The Attainment Network team is heading into forums, learning tours, and convenings that focus on community collaboration, leadership, and future-facing innovation. We’re excited to listen, learn, and celebrate the incredible work happening across the state. Here’s where you can find us this month: 🗓️ Thursday, August 8 🔹 Community Impact Forum: State of Education – Arvada Michelle is joining this annual conversation hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce, where leaders will explore topics shaping the future of K–12 and postsecondary education in Jeffco – including school start time equity, mental health, career pathways, and business partnerships. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 HA.HA. (High Action. High Alignment.) Sisterhood Gathering – Denver Rana is honored to join this bold panel of women leaders committed to solving complex challenges through collective action, shared leadership, and true alignment. This evening will spotlight what’s possible when Colorado’s women leaders lead together – not in parallel. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 Quantum Workforce Collaborative meeting – Online Rana and Michelle will join Elevate Quantum, NVIDIA, Spark Photonics, and the Colorado Governor’s Office for updates on quantum education initiatives. 🗓️ August 13–15 🔹 CO Project 2.0 Learning Tour – San Luis Valley Ashley was invited to participate in this exciting initiative – led by the Scrivner Institute and the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs – to uncover and scale the most promising economic, workforce, and sustainability solutions emerging from Colorado’s rural communities. Ashley is excited to elevate the career-connected pathways partnership as a national model of innovation and resilience. 🗓️ Wednesday, August 21 🔹 Colorado Talent Academy – Vail Valley Libby and Michelle will join a statewide cohort of talent leaders to explore regional solutions and strategies for employer engagement, as part of a larger effort to align talent development across Colorado. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 🔹 State of the Data: Longitudinal Data System Convening – Virtual Join us at 10 a.m. for a virtual session featuring state leaders sharing milestones and next steps for Colorado’s Longitudinal Data System. This is a key moment to learn more and engage with the future of education-to-workforce data. Register Here . 🗓️ Wednesday, August 28 🔹 Quantum Commons Open House – Boulder Rana, Michelle and Katherine are looking forward to celebrating the grand opening of the first major building on the Quantum Commons campus an emerging hub for innovation and workforce collaboration. This open house will bring together partners and community leaders from across the growing quantum ecosystem. We hope to see you at one of these events—or hear from you if you’re working on similar efforts in your region. We’re always looking to share ideas, elevate stories, and support the progress that’s already underway.
Andrea Stiles Pullas on Building a More Connected Ecosystem
The Attainment Network was founded on a simple belief: partnership drives progress . Even so, we are amazed by what the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished in just one year. Last week we gathered in Alamosa at Trinidad State College – Valley Campus with all of our partners to celebrate our accomplishments over the last year. Our colleagues from Adams State University, Trinidad State College, San Luis Valley Health, Valley Wide Health Systems, Boys & Girls Club, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and many others heard firsthand from learners and earners whose education and career journeys are being transformed through this collaboration. Meet a few of those learners and earners: Sunny Garcia – mother of a five-week-old infant – received support for books and nursing supplies while attending Adams State University to obtain her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She now works as a registered nurse at San Luis Valley Health and plans to start a doctorate program in nursing this fall. Nicole Peyer faced a major setback when her car broke down during her first semester in the nursing program at Adams State University. With help from partners, she secured reliable transportation to continue school and work. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is working as a registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit at San Luis Valley Health. Ronny Herrera , a father of two, received resources and support from partners while completing a master’s degree in clinical mental health. He plans to serve the youth in the Valley as a mental health counselor. These stories are powerful, but they represent just a fraction of what this partnership has achieved. In its first year, the collaboration has: Expanded CNA and Medical Assistant training programs into 13 of the 14 school districts in the valley , with 9 of those offering full, standalone programs. Empowered more than 24 students with hands-on experience through internships, training in the mobile lab, and other work-based learning programs. Equipped 73 learners with an industry-recognized credential Supported 15 adult learners in advancing their education – 6 of whom have already graduated from their programs. And the momentum continues! A mobile lab donated by SLV Health will travel the Valley this fall, giving students insight into careers in healthcare and other high-value careers as well as providing CNA and MA students with access to a clinic for hands-on training. And thanks to virtual reality headsets from Transfr – donated by the LOR Foundation and the Colorado Department of Housing and Finance – students across the valley can explore healthcare and other in-demand careers right in their own classrooms. What the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished is the future of rural workforce development. This framework for cross-sector collaboration can be used to meet critical workforce needs across rural Colorado – and that’s exactly what you’ll see in the future.