President Melissa Singler told those in nursing, and nuclear medical technical get them here in Robeson County, that the meeting. “吀栀is is important work. were among the top suggestions. is what we have to stay focused on and What you are doing here today is all the great things happening in our going to help us map out not only the Employability was the top choice for education system with our three major direction for the college, because we are how community stakeholders de昀椀ne partners, the public schools, community in our strategic planning process, but student success at Robeson Community college, and university…. 吀栀at’s how it is also going to help us, help the state College, which resonated with the you get those businesses to come when reach that attainment goal of 2 million purpose of the meeting, to get more you get that education to where it needs adults by 2030.” people back in the workforce and more to be, they want to move in and that’s credentials in the hands of people to the direction we are headed in.” During the meeting, RCC leaders led become gainfully employed. the group in participating in a word During Locklear’s presentation, he said cloud initiative that would help the “We all know there is a labor shortage there are 2373 jobs that are open up college in its strategic planning, as and there is a skills gap that we are now in Robeson County based on the Eric Freeman, the Vice President of tasked with making up and everyone in job report from April. Workforce Development, Continuing this room, whether you are in business Education, and Institutional Services and industry, government, we all have “We have the jobs available,” Locklear called it, “an interactive piece built a part to play in that,” Singler said. “If said. “We just need the capacity; we into the presentation to get back good you’re non-pro昀椀t, with an agency, your need to make sure they have the skills.” feedback.” involvement in this is critical, we cannot do this without you.” “It is a marathon, not a sprint,” Locklear “Who should RCC be collaborating said. “It’s going to take time… we still with regionally?” asked Dr. Johnny “吀栀e work that we are talking about have a lot of work to do in the next Smith, the Vice President of Instruction today is what we do every day for seven years.” and Student Support Services. workforce development,” stated Patricia Hammonds, director of the As members of the meeting typed a Lumber River Workforce Development word into their phones, it was quickly Board. “吀栀is is very important to us, discovered that PSRC was the top myFutureNC is a big deal and we do choice. Industry, other community the work every day to make sure we are colleges, and employers were other providing the resources our students recommendations. and our community needs with “List a career, technical or short-term everything they are trying to do.” health career program that RCC should So, what can Robeson Community consider o昀昀ering that we don’t already,” College and Robeson County do to was another question asked. reach the goal set by myFutureNC? 吀栀e screen lit up with responses, which “North Carolina is the leader when included dental assistant, peer support it comes to businesses and industry,” specialist AI, home healthcare and stated Dr. Robert Locklear. “How do we