As a lifelong Western New Yorker, one of the reasons I wanted to run for office was to help make our region a stronger and more viable place to live and do business.

That’s why I urged Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb to create a statewide task force to further investigate one facet of the out-migration problem: real, meaningful employment for young people after graduation and to ensure the middle-skills gap is addressed. These kinds of good-paying jobs are right here in Western New York, and in communities across our state, in the high-tech, trade, manufacturing and industrial fields.

I was pleased that Leader Kolb agreed and appointed me as co-chair of the Assembly Minority Conference Task Force on Learning for Work so we can listen to stakeholders in business, labor and education to offer concrete common-sense solutions that address this most important issue. The first meeting of the task force tour occurred right here in Western New York – to showcase these industries, the existing education programs that are working and to hear from experts who have been tackling this issue hands-on.

Over the last few weeks, I have traveled across our state, stopping in Rochester, the North Country, Central New York, the Capitol Region, and all the way down to Nassau County on Long Island to meet with educators, employers, students and parents to learn more about this issue in other communities and to find more ways the state can do better for graduates today and tomorrow. Many constituents have asked me why I would spend five additional nights outside of the Assembly District to undertake this research. Though representing the 144^th Assembly District is my top priority, I knew that if we could find commonalities across the state, it would better enable my colleagues and I to fight for the meaningful changes from Albany we need here in Western New York.

And we did. Our Learning for Work Task Force tour was an empowering experience, as the people who came to our forums realized that we all have a common goal: continuing pathways for students to explore successful careers. Now that our tour has concluded, my colleagues and I are reviewing our findings and will be issuing a comprehensive report with recommendations in the new year.

For now, some of my key takeaways include the understanding that students who pursue high-tech, trade, manufacturing or industrial fields are well prepared not only for wonderful, rewarding careers, but they also obtain the life skills needed to succeed. I would like to see the state do more to promote apprenticeships, and financial literacy, and develop career paths for students earlier on, including on-site tours and interactions for parents and students with businesses and trades, and educating parents and teachers on the positive long-term benefits of pursuing these professional trades. As a state, it is important we recognize that while not everyone needs to go to college in order to succeed, those who choose to pursue high-tech, trade, manufacturing or industrial pathways could be better enabled to succeed in college if they decide to pursue business or other technical degrees.

These pathways are vital to our success as a state – and remain wonderful ways for students to prosper and achieve the American Dream right here in New York State. If we do more to encourage students to pursue these rewarding careers, we could stop the out-migration and keep our families closer here in the communities we all love. Not only would our families be closer, but our communities would be stronger and the industries we need to improve our state’s infrastructure, develop our technology and launch our state into the future will also grow. With continued economic development, we all succeed.

Our Learning for Work Task Force was well worth the effort and, though I’ve missed being in the district while being away, this was an important experience that will benefit our community immensely as I continue to advocate for you at our state Capitol. While I look forward to keeping you all updated on our task force, please share your thoughts and ideas with me by emailing me at norrism@nyassembly.gov or follow me on social media.