136. Developing Employment Empowerment from Secondary School and Beyond with Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our youth are amazing people, who are learning and growing every day. Part of that learning includes figuring out what they enjoy doing and what they’re good at. As educators, we get to help them see how their skills and interests can potentially turn into a career.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But not enough of us are doing that, and it can be challenging to find a connection when teenagers and young adults adopt new interests and skills regularly.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, executive director and chief operating officer of the DeBruce Foundation. Among other things, the foundation is committed to helping individuals unlock their potential and find career pathways.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The DeBruce Foundation has a free tool that can help individuals of any age identify their abilities and interests and match them with a set of agilities that will allow them to explore careers, identify what education is needed, and so much more.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On this episode, we talk about the foundation’s recent research, why employment empowerment needs to be on every educator’s radar, and why this is the missing piece in career development and growth.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">About Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight:</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight is a resourceful, innovative leader who currently serves The DeBruce Foundation in Kansas City as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. The Foundation’s mission is to expand pathways to economic growth and opportunity. It seeks to help people discover what they want to do, and what they’re good at doing, to open more career possibilities.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having served as a K-12 educator, Leigh Anne established a career dedicated to improving