Dayton Kingdom Workforce Development Network: Kingdom Come at Work

Paul Hemminger
Feb 26
2 min read

Updated: Apr 24

81,000 + people (15.2%) are living in poverty in Greater Dayton.

Thousands more are struggling to make ends meet.

To "Develop the Workforce" is to Develop Humans

Work is an opportunity to leverage God's gifts to be part of a transformative team that solves problems, serves, and provides for ones self and family.

Problems:

The majority of Workforce Development rightfully focuses on developing the employees to navigate employment. However, what happens if the employer hasn't also been "developed?". These employers are disoriented on how to best receive, manage and support the employee to be successful.
This leads to low retention, higher costs, frustration, and a viscous cycle for both the employee and the employer.
Much less focus is given to "develop" the willing, ready, and able employers who want to increase both their bottom-line through retainment and the joy that comes from leading a transformative culture.

Solution: Create a Christ-centered workforce development network of workforce development trainers, coaches, and employers in different industries.

Vision: All employers harness their potential to be the most impactful transformative agents in helping their employees heal and grow in community. Kingdom Come at Work as it is in Heaven.

Strategy:

Create a Core Team of equippers and employers from different industries.
Align with secular workforce development activity and actors
Asset-map all high-quality employers from different industries and all equippers who are helping employers become high-quality.
- If you are interested in engaging with this network, please complete this form.
Gather equippers to map more high-quality employers.
Gather employers and equippers to:
- Share stories, processes, and skills in being a high-quality employer.
- Increase the number of employers who are on the path of becoming high-quality.
Gather annually to celebrate the good work and build momentum amongst employers.

See National and Local Stories of Employers and Equippers Below

Local Guides and Stories:

Equippers:
- The Trades Institute
- The Dayton Equity Center
- Employment Opportunity Center
- Dr. Love serving Employers who want to recruit and retain single moms
Employers:

National Guides and Stories:

How can Churches become Great Employers? See Story Below.

The Homeboy Way - Mandatory Reading for this Network

Homeboy Industries has a national network of 400 organizations. They triage connections of like-structured organizations, host tours, and an annual Global Homeboy Summit.

Thistle Farms has a national network of 96 sister organizations. They host monthly zoom gatherings, offer slack channels by topic, 2-day in-person workshops every 2 months, and bi-annual summits.

Christian Community Development Association's Economic Empowerment Network