- 10 months ago
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) donated his first quarter salary to an organization focused on improving career and technical education for K-12 students.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, everyone.
00:11And now I would like to introduce the First Lady, Suzanne Yunkin, and your 74th Governor
00:16of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Glenn Yunkin.
00:22Well, good morning, everybody, and good afternoon, esteemed colleagues, students, and faculty.
00:50Good afternoon, esteemed colleagues, students, and honored guests.
00:53SkillsUSA plays a pivotal role in shaping America's workforce by empowering students
00:59to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible citizens.
01:03Through a partnership of students, teachers, and industry, SkillsUSA ensures that our future
01:08professionals are equipped with personal, workplace, and technical skills grounded in academics.
01:14In Virginia, SkillsUSA serves over 13,000 members annually, offering hands-on skill training,
01:20leadership development workshops, and industry-led seminars.
01:24This commitment not only enhances the quality of our skilled workforce, but also provides students
01:30with the opportunity to excel in regional and state national competitions, fostering a culture
01:35of excellence and continuous improvement.
01:38The impact of SkillsUSA extends beyond individual achievements.
01:43It addresses the critical skills gap by preparing students to meet the demands of a dynamic economy.
01:50Employers recognize that SkillsUSA students are better equipped with technical expertise
01:56and the soft skills necessary for success in the workplace.
02:01The SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation is a private 501c3 organization dedicated to the support
02:07of its students and programs of SkillsUSA Virginia.
02:11The Foundation is dedicated to providing students and business partners to establish pipelines
02:17connecting one student in one classroom to one business at a time.
02:22For over 10 years, the Foundation has provided over $1 million in funding and materials
02:27to the SkillsUSA Virginia community.
02:30That sponsors the state leadership conference, national conferences, and leadership seminars
02:35throughout the state.
02:37Volunteers have given their time, money, and effort to ensuring that the leaders of tomorrow
02:42have the opportunity to display their skills and talent, and business leaders recognize
02:46the abilities of SkillsUSA competitors and return year after year to find their future employees.
02:53Today, we are privileged to have with us the Governor and First Lady, whose unwavering support
02:59for education and workforce development has been instrumental in advancing our mission.
03:04Their generous salary donation to SkillsUSA exemplifies a profound commitment to nurturing
03:10the talents of youth and strengthening the fabric of our community.
03:14On behalf of all present, I extend our deepest gratitude to the Governor and First Lady
03:19for their remarkable contribution.
03:21Your support not only empowers our students, but enriches the future of our state and our nation.
03:27So thank you.
03:29At this time, I'd like to bring up David Hunt, who is a SkillsSource Director.
03:40Governor Duncan, this is Duncan.
03:41On behalf of the SkillsSource Group and the Virginia CareerWorks Northern Region,
03:45I hope my words will adequately express our gratitude and appreciation for your gift this afternoon.
03:52Having personally spent a lifetime in public service,
03:55I know that this is an extremely rare event for all of us.
03:59I want to acknowledge that this is the largest private donation the Skill Source Group has
04:03received in its 23-year history, and to thank you both for this gift and for the honor of
04:08your recognition of our work in Northern Virginia.
04:12I feel we are the overnight success that has taken us over 23 years of hard work to achieve.
04:18We represent the public workforce system in the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of 14 local
04:23workforce boards across the state.
04:25We work closely with state agencies such as Virginia Works, Aging and Rehabilitative Services,
04:30Social Services, Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Economic Development Partnership.
04:35We're also closely aligned with local government economic development officials, including
04:40the Fairfax County Department of Family Services and the Loudoun County Workforce Resource
04:45Center, as well as many community-based organizations with whom we closely collaborate.
04:51I want to extend my gratitude to these organizations, many of whom are in the audience this afternoon.
04:57Of course, our Skill Source Group employees and staff of the Fairfax County Department
05:01of Family Services get all of the credit for their daily work resulting in our program success.
05:08We are enthusiastic about our work in Northern Virginia.
05:11Despite many job opportunities for myriad skills and occupations that are available
05:15now in this region, surprisingly, the demand for our services continues unabated.
05:21This year, even before the many changes at the federal level, our five American Job Centers
05:26were on pace to serve over 45,000 job seekers, many of whom are seeking the first opportunity
05:32in the labor market.
05:34Beyond those five American Job Centers, we have staff working in the Fairfax County Jail,
05:39the Prince William Manassas Jail.
05:41We also deliver an older worker program for those over 55 that extends from Arlington
05:46County out to the city of Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley.
05:50Skill Source also operates a recognized Social Security Ticket to Work employment network
05:55that supports job seekers who receive Social Security disability benefits in helping them
06:00move back to work at higher earnings and benefits.
06:04There's a Bible parable about the fig tree planted and vineyard among the grapes.
06:11After several years, the fig tree was not producing the fruit expected by the landowner.
06:16Frustrated, the landowner told the gardener, cut that fig tree down and replace it with
06:20something that will bear fruit.
06:22The gardener resisted, advising the landowner to have patience, allowing one more year for
06:27more watering and care.
06:29The landowner relented.
06:31Using this analogy, fig trees are humans, and all of us in the workforce development
06:36and employment business are gardeners, nurturing the soil to better prepare individuals to
06:41bear fruit, to be more productive and self-sufficient citizens in the commonwealth.
06:46I'm now pleased to invite to the podium Ms. Giselle Castani, an honor student at Northern
06:51Virginia Community College who also works with Skill Source, and she will talk about
06:55her experiences in the educational and workforce system.
06:59Giselle.
07:00Good afternoon, everyone.
07:07I'm honored to speak here about my journey to you all.
07:13Thank you, Mr. Hahn, for giving me the opportunity and also the first again, Mr. Governor, to
07:20speak about my journey in the U.S. as a youngest member of Skill Source group.
07:25My name is Giselle Castani, and I am a civil engineering major at Northern Virginia Community
07:30College.
07:31On a pathway to transfer to George Mason University and continue my studies in civil engineering,
07:38I also serve as a WIOA youth ambassador for a Skill Source group.
07:42It's a true honor to speak about my background and the journey that brought me where I am
07:48today.
07:49I was raised and born in Afghanistan.
07:53I immigrated to the United States in late 2021 with my family during the evacuation
08:00following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
08:03Before leaving, I was first year civil engineering student in Kabul University, where I first
08:10began my engineering journey.
08:16The transition was extremely hard and difficult for me.
08:20I faced language barriers and challenging to navigate the new education system here
08:26in the U.S., and adapting a new culture and environment was completely challenging for
08:31me.
08:32It was not easy to find my path again, but being in the United States gave me something
08:38that many girls in my country are currently denied, their right to education.
08:44In Afghanistan, girls are banned from attending school behind sixth grade.
08:51So, having the opportunity to continue my education here in the U.S. means everything
08:57to me.
08:59Within the support of local services in North Virginia, such as North Virginia Community
09:04College, scholarship and mentorship programs, and workforce development programs like WIOA
09:13through a skill search group helped me to overcome all those challenges, and I was able
09:19to rebuild my academic path and restart my journey in education here in the U.S.
09:26These opportunities helped me overcome the challenges I faced and move forward to my
09:30dream of becoming a civil engineer.
09:34Aside from work and study, now I give back to the community.
09:39I am happy and proud to say that I founded the first women in engineering and architecture
09:46student organization in North Virginia Community College, where I currently lead over 75 active
09:53members.
09:54Together, we support each other, share resources, explore career and educational opportunities
10:01in civil engineering and architecture in North Virginia to empower future workforce across
10:07the Commonwealth of Virginia.
10:10I'm especially passionate about inspiring and encouraging more females to pursue careers
10:17in engineering.
10:18Civil engineering was not a common field for women in Afghanistan, where I first began
10:24my journey.
10:26And even now here in the U.S., we see fewer women in construction and civil engineering.
10:33My goal and the goal of my student organization is simply to inspire the future generation
10:39of civil engineers.
10:41Also, through my role as a WIOA youth ambassador with a skill search group, I had the opportunity
10:47to help my peers navigate their own career paths, which has been one of the most fulfilling
10:54parts of this journey.
10:56I feel incredibly fortunate for being a part of such a diverse and supportive community.
11:04It has shaped who I am, and I look forward to continuing to give back to build a strong
11:11future together as a part of the next generation of engineers and leaders in this country.
11:18These were some of the highlights about my progress in pursuing my career path in the
11:24U.S.
11:25I'm thankful for the guidance and support that I have always received from a skill search
11:30group and resources in Northern Virginia.
11:33I'm grateful to contribute their mission and help others grow through my role as a WIOA
11:39youth ambassador.
11:41Thank you so much, and now I would like to ask Mr. Eric to come and present.
11:46Thank you, Governor, First Lady, and David for inviting ABM Aviation.
12:00My name is Eric.
12:01I'm Director of Operations for ABM Aviation here.
12:04I do want to start by thanking the true leaders of this partnership, which is Mark and Gary.
12:10Thank you to our talent acquisition leaders that work with the Loudoun Workforce Resource
12:15Center, as well as Virginia CareerWorks.
12:18That partnership has been going on for over six years.
12:22Some of you may know this already, but one of our biggest clients here is United Airlines
12:27and IAD Airport, Dulles Airport, and then we have American Airlines over at DCA Airport.
12:33So combined, we have over 1,300 employees that work within our workforce and do multiple
12:39job functions throughout.
12:41But I do want to share a story that started when I joined the organization last year where
12:46Gary and I had an opportunity to sit down and we talked about what does talent development
12:52and talent acquisition mean for us here in the Mid-Atlantic.
12:56And one of the things we thought about is in LinkedIn, people can apply, get a job.
13:02You can go to Indeed, apply, and get a job.
13:06But we talked about how do we get more involved in the community?
13:10And we set a goal for ourselves that said, any time there's an opportunity for us to
13:15be in the community, allow the people to actually speak with us and talk with us about the organization,
13:22then that's an opportunity that we cannot let go.
13:25And since then, we've been able to be a part of over seven job fairs between Q3 and
13:32Q4, and then recently in January, we had over 25 employees that we hired and allowed in
13:40the job fair.
13:41So that partnership is extremely important for us.
13:44And in ABM, we have six core values, but I want to focus specifically on three.
13:49And one of them is respect, collaboration, and trust.
13:53And we respect all the work that this entire community is doing for our people, especially
13:58those that come to the country, and we want to be able to give them an opportunity to
14:02work for us.
14:03We want to collaborate and find innovative ways that we can provide these jobs to people
14:08in the Virginia community.
14:10And then, last but not least, we trust the work that's being done.
14:14And without that trust, this partnership wouldn't work.
14:16So we truly appreciate both organizations for helping us.
14:19Thank you, Gary and Mark, for the work you've been doing with the community as well.
14:23And I'll pass it on over to First Lady.
14:33Good afternoon, everyone.
14:34Thank you for coming out on this rainy day.
14:37A little dreary, but we're here to talk about something much more bright.
14:41So hopefully that'll encourage us all as we leave.
14:44Jeff and David, thank you.
14:46Thank you for your public service.
14:49Thank you for your commitment to others.
14:51We love the way you're preparing Virginia students, and you're really supporting job seekers.
14:57That is fabulous work, and we're distinctly, distinctly honored to have you here today.
15:04I also want to say, Giselle, wow.
15:06Wow.
15:07We talk a lot about sisterhood in my orbit, but you are not only marching forward for
15:13your sisters and being an incredible role model, but you're coming alongside and lifting
15:18them up.
15:19And I just couldn't be more proud of what you're doing.
15:22Congratulations.
15:23And thank you so, so much.
15:25Eric, thank you.
15:26Thank you for loving people and giving them opportunity.
15:29We so appreciate it.
15:30And I would be completely remiss if I did not call out and introduce the two amazing
15:36people, bookends, your Secretary of Education, Amy Guderra, and your Secretary of Labor,
15:47Brian Slater.
15:52Their presence here, I think, is very emblematic and speaks volumes to this administration's
15:57focus on the next generation and really a mission to make sure that Virginia's workforce
16:06is prepared for whatever it is that they want to do for really vibrant living and vibrant
16:15working.
16:16Glenn and I have long supported workforce preparedness programs.
16:20This is not our first time, long before he was even ever governor, or thinking about
16:25going into public service.
16:27So this is something that's near and dear to our hearts.
16:30We believe there's dignity in work.
16:32We believe in financial stability.
16:34We believe that every single Virginian, and if I'm honest, every single human being, needs
16:40to have a life that is grounded in purpose, and work does that.
16:44So we are the lucky ones to be able to be here today to focus on the work that Skills
16:49USA nationally, and also their Virginia Foundation, as well as Skill Source Group, does here in
16:56our commonwealth.
16:57As you will hear from the governor, they're turning classrooms into career labs, and they're
17:04really bridging school with life and livelihoods.
17:08And again, we're so glad to honor them.
17:11And I just want to focus on, you mentioned that story about the fig tree in the Bible.
17:17So I am endeavoring, one of my New Year's resolutions was to listen to this podcast,
17:22which is Bible in a Year.
17:25For any of you that have ever done this, it is definitely a labor of love.
17:30I'm a little behind.
17:31I already admit it.
17:32But this morning, we were going through Exodus.
17:35Many of you all have read Exodus or know anything about it.
17:39And in there, I could not believe it, because sometimes this happens in early mornings and
17:44when we do something cool.
17:46There is a story about two great craftsmen, and essentially there is a verse that reads
17:52something like this, and he, God, has given them the ability to teach others, filled them
17:59with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers, weavers, and to carry
18:08out construction of all kinds.
18:11And so what we're talking about today is something as old as the beginning of time,
18:18something that's been part of our human experience since the very beginning.
18:23It's the coming together of what happens in our heads and in our hearts, and it plays
18:29out through our hands.
18:31And so I'm so proud of you all that are here, that are endeavoring to build vibrant
18:37and purposeful lives.
18:38And I'm so excited today to support organizations that are really helping every single Virginian
18:46live into his or her best self.
18:49So thank you for being here.
18:51Without any further ado, I'd like to introduce the 74th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
18:57and my husband, Glenn Youngkin.
19:07Well, thank you, and as you all can now see, following my wife in speaking order,
19:14is always quite a feat.
19:17But we, together, have this opportunity to celebrate the next generation of Virginia need,
19:26talent, talent.
19:29If you hadn't noticed, we have jobs in Virginia, a lot of them, and a lot of them
19:34that need great, great, great Virginians to step into them and say, yes, I'm ready.
19:41More importantly, the reciprocal of that is a company, a business saying, you are hired.
19:47What a cool thing to say.
19:49Three incredibly powerful words.
19:51Words that mean I see you, I value you, and you can add value to our organization,
19:57and I look forward to the great career that you will have.
20:01You are hired.
20:03Just as amazing.
20:05Jeff, thank you.
20:07Thank you for your leadership at the SkillsUSA Foundation
20:10and the passion you bring to what you do.
20:12David, thank you for what you do at SkillSource Group.
20:15And these two organizations, in fact, just embody Virginians helping Virginians.
20:24And so, thank you.
20:26I also want to thank our friends who are hosting today, the independent electrical contractors
20:30and, of course, the associated builders and contractors.
20:35And we've got two friends here that I know that are hosting,
20:37but thank you for letting us be here.
20:39Careers, right here in this building, being launched and furthered.
20:42And so, thank you.
20:44And, of course, we've already had a chance to say thank you to Secretary Slater and Secretary Godera,
20:49but we also have lots of other leaders from the community here.
20:52Thank you for being here.
20:53Employers, folks that believe in opportunity, and most importantly, students.
20:58And so, thank you all for being here.
21:00What the First Lady just described is the journey that we are all in in life.
21:07What is my passion?
21:09What are my God-given skills and capabilities going to lead to?
21:13And how do I unlock them?
21:15And oftentimes, we need help.
21:18We need help in finding that path and that journey and preparing for that great opportunity.
21:23And that's what these two extraordinary organizations do.
21:28They provide resources, assistance, training, relationships
21:33that enable each of those individuals that they touch,
21:37individual, one by one,
21:39to find those relationships and those opportunities
21:42that lead to a fulfillment of an aspiration.
21:46That is really awesome.
21:48And we need more of you.
21:50We need you to do more because, as I said, Virginia has jobs.
21:55One of the great recognitions over the course of the last three years
22:01has been Virginia going from a state where it was in the bottom third of job growth
22:06to a state where we are in the top one, three, five, or ten every year now in job growth.
22:12And that means opportunity.
22:15We have 259,000 jobs across the Commonwealth of Virginia
22:19that are readily available to be taken.
22:22Companies, businesses that want to hire folks
22:25and need to partner with organizations like the ones that we are celebrating today
22:31to prepare and introduce employers to employees.
22:37That is awesome.
22:38That is awesome.
22:39And so that's why today, Suzanne and I are doubly excited today.
22:45You see, oftentimes, when we have a salary donation,
22:50and I committed that the two of us would donate our salary every quarter
22:53to organizations across the Commonwealth of Virginia
22:56that are truly supporting and driving the spirit of Virginia.
23:01And what we all believe is the beginning of America
23:05right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia
23:07that laid the foundation for the American journey.
23:11And that's been such an honor over the last three years.
23:14And so oftentimes, we find two great organizations
23:17and we will split my salary for the quarter,
23:20which is $43,750.
23:23Well, we find ourselves here in quarter two.
23:26And we are doubly excited about what these organizations do.
23:31And so that puts us in an opportunity to have two quarters worth of salary to donate today.
23:37And so each one of these organizations is going to receive today $43,750.
23:44Applause
23:52It is that commitment to help people find pathways
23:56to serve fellow Virginians, which is so inspiring.
24:01The work that SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation does
24:06starts with that recognition that every individual
24:12is formed in the image of God and therefore has unlimited potential.
24:17And how can we work together to unlock it?
24:20And that is the great work that SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation has been doing.
24:25How do we first provide partnerships with training academies and schools?
24:32How do we support events that introduce students
24:36into this world of, one, showing off your skills,
24:40on top of that, being introduced to employers?
24:43Finally, how do you close the deal and get that invitation of,
24:48you are hired?
24:50And they've been doing it in an extraordinary way across the Commonwealth.
24:54I have to say, they have been leading technical training
24:58in over 130 occupations
25:02and provide real-time opportunities for students to showcase those skills.
25:07What's better, reading it in a textbook or showing it off?
25:11And I think showing it off leads the way every single day.
25:16And then once students are connected with all of these different employers
25:21through competitions and showcasing events,
25:25then we see SkillsUSA Virginia cap off these efforts
25:29by emphasizing that a truly successful workforce
25:33must have strength and character.
25:36In fact, they foster amazing values.
25:39Integrity. Respect. Responsibility.
25:44Citizenship. Service.
25:47What a collection of character attributes.
25:51And I just want to thank SkillsUSA Virginia
25:55for believing deeply in people.
25:58And it is, in fact, that exact same perspective
26:04that has led Skillsource Group
26:07to demonstrate the same kinds of support here in Northern Virginia,
26:11as you have just heard.
26:13They have worked tirelessly to prepare and support
26:17Virginians for either that first job
26:21or that mid-career shift,
26:24connecting, once again, resources and opportunity
26:28with people who want to pursue them.
26:31What an amazing statement.
26:33I'm sure if I were to ask David what he does,
26:36he could either give me a very long description
26:39or he could say, we unlock opportunity.
26:42And what a statement.
26:44Training and resources for Virginians.
26:47Virginians who are seeking high-paying, in-demand jobs
26:51with an opportunity to find a partner to help them get them.
26:56Again, I want to thank Grant Pack for hosting us today
27:00at this wonderful facility.
27:02They, too, work to unlock opportunity.
27:05They have been working in partnership with students
27:09and Virginians who want to find their way into great careers,
27:13great careers in electrical contracting,
27:16great careers in building trades,
27:19great careers that lead to great lives.
27:22And so I just want to thank everyone
27:25who has opened up an opportunity for students
27:30to see what they can do and to say,
27:33that is what I want to do.
27:36And I can see myself be great at it.
27:39What a great message.
27:41I have to say, it's one of the reasons why I so enthusiastically
27:44just signed a new bill into law in Virginia
27:47that allows any public middle school and high school
27:51to establish career and technical education student organizations.
27:56So, if you were in one of our K-12 schools,
28:00Giselle, you would have already established this.
28:03You would have had a group that you would have established.
28:06But this allows all our schools
28:09to have a career and technical education club
28:12or student organization, led by students, for students,
28:15opening up those great pathways.
28:18So finally, today we have the great opportunity
28:22to celebrate tomorrow.
28:25Next week, next year, celebrating futures.
28:28And it's futures that we are all about.
28:31Futures that are bright.
28:34Futures that are uplifting.
28:37Because we know that Virginia today
28:40is the very best place in the world
28:43to live and to work and to raise a family.
28:46And I look forward to everyone in Virginia
28:50being ready to live that dream.
28:53And therefore, Suzanne and I are honored.
28:56Honored today to be able to present
28:59Here, you get one. I'll get this one.
29:02Perfect. We're going across.
29:05Here we go.
29:08And I am so honored to present
29:11SkillsUSA Virginia Foundation
29:14a check for $43,750.
29:17Applause
29:25The same amount. I can't read it.
29:28Congratulations.
29:31Applause
29:37We have high expectations for all of the students
29:40that will find their best opportunity
29:43through these two great organizations.
29:46Applause
29:52I have to say, in our administration
29:55we have lots of meetings
29:58and we talk about the things we're going to go do
30:01with great aspiration and then very detailed plans.
30:04And we finish all meetings
30:07with one basic question.
30:10I say, guess what time it is?
30:14Time to go to work.
30:17Ready? What time is it?
30:20Time to go to work.
30:23Let's go get jobs.
30:26Applause
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