Reflection & Future Direction: Insights from the 2025 NYCETC Conference

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, is joined by Stephanie Birmingham, NYCETC Director of Community & Operations, Courtney Granger, and Jennifer Tausig for a real-time debrief of the 2025 NYCETC Conference—what resonated, what surprised them, and what comes next for the workforce field. Together, they unpack the energy inside (and outside) the rooms: the “workforce prom” reunions, the hard truths about systems that still don’t work for too many New Yorkers, and the conference through-lines—power, coalition-building, and the plumbing of public systems that need more than patchwork fixes.The conversation digs into standout moments and themes, including the push to get more specific—and more honest—about how AI is changing work, the renewed urgency around advocacy, and the case for wraparound supports backed by data and ROI. They also explore why workforce is still treated as an afterthought in economic development and why small businesses, neighborhood health, and “warm handoffs” to employers have to be central to the next chapter.The episode closes with lightning-round reflections, what’s giving each guest hope (and urgency) heading into 2026, and an invitation to stay engaged as NYCETC carries conference momentum forward—through partnerships, metrics that matter, and a clearer story about who gets the job done. Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network