10/05/2026
This week, The Healthy Earth Organization will host a Florida Climate Week 2026 event in Southwest Florida, made possible with support from the VoLo Foundation.
Our event, SW Florida Community Gaps 3.0: Preparing the Next Generation for Florida’s Changing Workforce, will bring together Gen Z young adults and local community leaders to better understand what the next generation needs to successfully enter, navigate, and grow within Florida’s workforce.
The goal is simple: bring young people into the conversation instead of continuing to create programs, resources, and workforce solutions for them without their voices at the table.
The numbers show why this conversation matters. In August 2026, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. women ages 20–24 and about 1 in 4 men in the same age group were not participating in the workforce. And according to the Federal Reserve, 15% of adults under 30 who were not working in 2025 said difficulty finding a job was part of the reason; three times the rate reported by adults 30 and older.
This invitation-only event will bring together local community leaders who are championing this work alongside young adults with strong perspectives on what they need, what opportunities are missing, and where gaps remain after completing higher education or pursuing credential and certification pathways. Rather than guessing what the next generation needs, we want them in the room telling us themselves.
The Healthy Earth Organization Community Gaps 3.0 event is about listening first and using those perspectives to better understand how we can create stronger pathways into Florida’s changing workforce.
A HUGE thank you to VoLo Foundation and their team for making these efforts possible.
To learn more about our Community Gaps Initiative please visit: https://lnkd.in/eGVRfM7Z
To learn more about this event and sign up to receive an invitation to this event please visit: https://lnkd.in/ecwbUKed
