Transit-Community Partnerships: Advancing Workforce Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion

June 7, 2023

Across the United States, nearly all transit agencies face major challenges, including frontline workforce shortages leading to route cuts that directly impact the accessibility and mobility of communities. Dialogue between the community and transit agencies on workforce shortages can play a critical role in helping improve public transit, as well as build valuable long-term relationships around various initiatives. In this webinar, panelists with experience in community-based partnerships that embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and access discussed with webinar participants a variety of ways community-based organizations, transit agencies, and unions can engage in creating a strong workforce that fully reflects their communities.

Featured Speakers:

• Beth Berendsen, Policy Director, Chicago Women in Trades
• Rich Diaz, Bus Operator Mentor Lead, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
• Aaron Koski, Senior Manager - Workforce Development, Metro Transit (MN)
• Anna Penland, Assistant Transportation Manager – OECC Coordinator, Metro Transit (MN)
• David Stephen, International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center
• Chris VanEyken, Director, Research and Policy, TransitCenter