Four Essential Best Practices for Engaging Partners and Practitioners to Advance Economic Mobility

September 3, 2024

This post was originally published by WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility.

By Jasmine McGee and Adriel Garcia

In this blog, we explore four best practices for partner and practitioner engagement that can transform economic mobility initiatives.

Advancing economic mobility—a person’s ability to improve their economic status over time—is a complex challenge. To make meaningful and systemic changes that enhance communities with economic mobility, coordinated efforts across multiple sectors are pivotal. For any initiative or project aimed at enhancing economic mobility to succeed, the involvement of key partners and practitioners is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Years of practitioner experience makes it clear that effective engagement can lead to increased buy-in, higher productivity, and a more significant impact.

Key interest holders often include local government officials who can influence policy and funding decisions, workforce development agencies that connect individuals with job opportunities, and higher education institutions that provide the necessary training and education for upward mobility. Additionally, community organizations play a vital role in reaching and supporting marginalized populations, while employers and industry leaders can offer insights into labor market needs and create pathways for career advancement. Engaging these diverse partners ensures that economic mobility initiatives are informed by a wide range of perspectives and are better positioned to address the multifaceted challenges of improving economic outcomes for individuals and communities. This blog post explores four best practices for partner and practitioner engagement that can transform economic mobility initiatives.

1. Establish Open Communication Channels

The bedrock of any successful project is transparent, two-way communication. When partners and practitioners are kept informed and encouraged to share their insights, the project benefits from diverse perspectives, which leads to more robust outcomes. Open communication builds trust and keeps everyone aligned with the project’s goals. It ensures that interest holders are active participants in the project’s success.

To do this, development of California’s Master Plan for Career Education included a comprehensive website where participants provided input in addition to a series of statewide in-person and online convenings. A core element of the Master Plan’s mission is to ensure that every voice is heard, establishing multiple channels for feedback and engagement. Commitment to open channels of communication ensures that the Master Plan remains responsive, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs of California’s diverse workforce.

ACTION: When gathering partners and practitioners, initiatives should consider their communication channels. Ensure project leaders receive regular communication updates, including weekly emails, monthly meetings, an open forum, and access to fill out a continuous feedback form to gauge whether efforts or tactics need to shift. Consider other modes of communication when including larger audiences, such as websites or social media. This transparent approach allows all parties to stay informed and address issues promptly. By practicing open communication, potential problems will be resolved quickly, and the project can stay on track.

2. Practice Collaborative Decision-Making

Engaging partners and practitioners in decision-making processes creates a sense of shared ownership and commitment. When people feel that their voices are heard, they are more likely to support and contribute to the project. Collaborative decision-making can lead to more innovative and effective solutions. When partners and practitioners are involved in the process, they bring diverse perspectives that can significantly improve the project’s impact.

Collaborative decision-making can look like the following:

• shared vision statement drafting: Build opportunities for interest holders to collaborate on draft visions and goals until it resonates with all parties involved.
• development of a communication strategy: Create a plan that articulates the shared vision of all interest holders and keeps it at the forefront of project activities.
• transparent documentation: Establish clear, accessible documentation that captures the shared vision, making it available to all for reference and guidance.

The California REACH project, a project WestEd supports by providing technical assistance to the Success Center for California Community Colleges, exemplifies the essence of collaborative decision-making in advancing economic mobility. California REACH gathers a dynamic coalition of institutional leaders, support staff, faculty, and partners from industry and academia. The project champions the importance of focusing attention on meaningful collaboration by inviting interest holders into the shared visioning process. This strategic approach ensures that a breadth of expertise and perspectives are at the heart of the project, driving decisions that are both innovative and reflective of California’s diverse educational and workforce needs.

ACTION: When planning projects and initiatives, form an advisory board that includes a host of institutional administration and support staff, faculty, employers, and academic partners. This board should actively participate in decision-making processes to ensure that the project aligns with community needs and can lead to sustainable, long-term economic benefits. It is crucial to ensure that individuals being brought together have the necessary bandwidth to contribute effectively, ensuring that team members are not stretched too thin. This is sometimes the difference between increased participant buy-in and true collaboration.

3. Training and Capacity Building

Empowering partners and practitioners with the necessary skills is a key strategy for maintaining engagement and ensuring the project’s success. When people are equipped with the tools they need, they are more likely to contribute effectively. By investing in their capacity building, initiatives can ensure that participants are not only prepared to contribute now but are also motivated to stay involved over the long term.

The United Domestic Workers Adult Demonstration, a project WestEd supports through their partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, focuses on building capacity for both emerging and established best practices in adult education through a monthly Community of Practice. This collaborative space is dedicated to professional development and skill enhancement, providing educators and practitioners with the tools and knowledge necessary to establish or expand resources and course offerings for adult learners. By identifying and addressing gaps in participants with knowledge and capabilities, the initiative cultivates an environment where continuous and collective learning is a central priority. This strategic approach has created an opportunity to leverage the collective expertise of the community to drive innovation, address challenges, and sustain impact while also establishing a strong foundation of support and mentorship among the practitioners.

ACTION: Identify gaps in the skills and knowledge of key participants, such as educators or practitioners. Offer targeted training sessions, communities of practice, and skill-based workshops. Enhancing the skills of the team not only improves program outcomes but also boosts confidence and engagement among participants, leading to sustained impact.

4. Measure and Celebrate Success

To maintain momentum and morale, it is vital to regularly measure progress and celebrate successes, even small ones. Recognizing achievements keeps partners and practitioners motivated and committed to the project’s goals. It’s important to acknowledge the hard work of partners and practitioners because this recognition can significantly raise morale and keep the project on track.

A great example of this is a Regional K16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program recipient that uses the “In the News” section of its website to showcase local and regional accomplishments. By highlighting these achievements, whether it’s the completion of a significant milestone or the success of a community event, the collaborative not only recognizes the hard work of its partners and practitioners but also keeps everyone engaged and motivated. This public acknowledgment serves as a powerful tool to boost morale, reinforce commitment to the project’s goals, and demonstrate the tangible impact of collective efforts, ensuring that the initiative stays on track and continues to inspire those involved.

ACTION: Establish a system to track progress, and celebrate every achievement, big or small. Publicly recognize participants, institutions, work groups, and regional successes.

Enhancing economic mobility is not a task that can be tackled in isolation. It requires the collective efforts of various sectors, with partners and practitioners playing crucial roles in driving success. When these best practices are implemented effectively, the possibility for transformative systems work is within reach.

Economic mobility initiatives or projects must consider how these best practices can be thoughtfully integrated into their approaches and strategies. By actively applying these engagement strategies, initiatives cultivate stronger relationships with key interest holders, promote a more collaborative environment, and significantly enhance impact and sustainability.

Take the next step in advancing your efforts—visit the Center for Economic Mobility website to learn more about effective engagement strategies and resources to support your initiatives. Together, we can build pathways to greater economic opportunity and success.

Jasmine McGee is a Research Associate II at WestEd. Her areas of expertise include data–informed approaches and trends, student–centered equity strategies, a strong understanding of K16 education data systems, and a long history of serving historically disadvantaged populations. Jasmine received a BA in psychology and African American studies from University of California, Davis and an MA in counseling from St. Mary’s College of California.

Adriel Garcia is a Program Associate at WestEd focusing on Economic Mobility, Postsecondary Education, and Workforce Systems. He plays a key role in supporting educational data, developing dashboards, and systematizing education and workforce systems. Adriel holds a BA in psychology social behavior, education, with a minor in management from University of California, Irvine.