RURAL ROUTES
Global Talent Symposium
November 12
Rural communities across the country face persistent workforce shortages while internationally trained professionals often possess valuable education, credentials, and experience that remain underutilized. Rural Routes: Global Talent Symposium will bring together stakeholders from multiple sectors to explore practical strategies for identifying internationally trained professionals, addressing barriers to employment, strengthening career pathways, and building coordinated state and community systems.
A Partnership Between:
This symposium is designed for organizations and leaders who support ITPs, rather than as a direct-service event for internationally trained professionals themselves.
Attendee Outcomes
By the conclusion of the symposium, participants will:
1.
Identify a concrete next step
for advancing or improving structured ITP pathways in their state or community, including identifying at least one person or organization with whom they will meet following the symposium.
2.
Leave with practical tools and resources
to assess local needs, identify partners, locate funding, and develop solutions.
3.
Build connections with peers and national experts
who can support continued learning and implementation.
4.
Identify opportunities for continued engagement
through localized or state-based communities and future conversations.
Day One
DAY 1 AGENDA
Understanding the Opportunity and Learning from the Field
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Welcome and symposium goals
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Who are internationally trained professionals?
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Why rural communities should be paying attention
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The intersection of global talent, workforce shortages, adult education, and economic development
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Introduction to the Rural Routes Action Plan, which participants will develop throughout the symposium
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Global Talent in Rural America: An Untapped Workforce Opportunity
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A national perspective on the changing workforce, the challenges faced by internationally trained professionals, and the opportunity for rural states and communities to develop intentional systems that connect skilled immigrants with high-demand occupations.
From Challenge to Opportunity: What Is Working in Rural Communities?
Representatives from workforce, adult education, employers, government, and community organizations share examples of successful approaches as well as persistent challenges.Building Healthcare Pathways for Internationally Trained Professionals
Healthcare provides an ideal case study because rural communities face significant workforce shortages while many internationally trained professionals possess healthcare education and experience.
Day Two
DAY 2 AGENDA
Building the Pathway
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Brief reflection on Day One and introduction to Day Two:
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Today we move from learning about the opportunity to building the infrastructure necessary to act.
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From Expertise to Opportunity: Navigating the U.S. Workforce as an Internationally Trained Professional
Feature an internationally trained professional who can provide a firsthand perspective on:-
Arriving with education and professional experience
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Navigating credential recognition
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Language and cultural barriers
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Understanding U.S. hiring practices
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Finding the right organizations and resources
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What employers and workforce systems could have done differently
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What ultimately helped them succeed
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Participants select one breakout based on their community's priorities.
Breakout 1: Engaging Rural Employers
Breakout 2: Expanding English Language Access for Rural ITPs
Breakout 3: Apprenticeships and Alternative PathwaysThis facilitated working session is the centerpiece of the symposium.
Participants work individually and in state/community groups to complete a Rural Routes Action Plan.
Rural Routes Toolkit
Each participant receives a digital implementation toolkit containing:
01
Partner Identification
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Community Partner Inventory
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State/local partner mapping worksheet
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American Job Center locator
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State Offices of New Americans/Immigrant Affairs resources
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WES partner resources
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Community-based organization directories
02
Needs Assessment
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Community Needs Analysis Worksheet
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ITP Identification/Intake Questions
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Barrier Inventory Checklist
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Local Workforce Data Guide
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Community Demographic Scan
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Employer Needs Interview Guide
03
Resource Alignment
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WIOA resource guide
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IELCE resources for internationally trained professionals
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Adult education program opportunities
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Funding source inventory
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Resource Alignment Matrix
04
Career Pathway Development
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WES Steps to Success resources
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Career pathway planning template
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Credential recognition resources
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Case manager/career coach resources
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Apprenticeship pathway examples
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Profession-specific pathway examples
05
Employer Engagement
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Employer conversation guide
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Business case for hiring internationally trained professionals
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Employer readiness checklist
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ITP onboarding checklist
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Mentorship framework
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Workplace English resources
06
Action Planning
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Rural Routes Action Plan
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30/60/90-Day Implementation Template
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Partnership Meeting Agenda Template
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State/Community ITP Strategy Worksheet
Closing Session |
From Symposium to Action
Presented BY: Hector Martinez
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Participants share:
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One idea they are taking home
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One person they will contact
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One action they will take within 30 days
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Final Challenge
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Don't leave with only a good idea. Leave with a person to call, a meeting to schedule, and a first step to take.
