Promise to Paycheck

Economic Mobility Center
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Promise to Paycheck is a podcast from the Economic Mobility Center, hosted by Dr. Eric Ban. Every episode explores the real stories, systems, data, and partnerships working to make economic mobility a reality across North Texas and beyond. From students navigating college as first-generation learners to chancellors, CEOs, and employers reshaping career pathways, Promise to Paycheck connects the big ideas to the human experiences behind them — asking what's working, what's not, and what it will take to build a regional ecosystem where every student has a path to a living wage and a career that transforms their family's future.

Episodes

  1. Sep 15

    Promise to Paycheck Ep. 4 | From Job Center to 6-Figure Career: How Workforce Solutions Connects Dallas County Residents to Paychecks

    In this episode of Promise to Paycheck, Angela Farley, executive in residence at the Economic Mobility Center, sits down with Laura Ward, CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, to unpack the "paycheck" side of the Promise to Paycheck equation. They're joined by Tasia Lewis, a career advisor with the Young Adult Program, and Tyreon Gross, a former warehouse forklift operator now training to become an electrician, who shares how one conversation with a friend put him on a path to a six-figure career. They also cover the nine Workforce Solutions job centers spread across Dallas County, how the customer-choice model lets jobseekers pick their own path, what these services actually cost (free for everyone, with additional support available if you qualify), and how AI is already reshaping the jobs people need to train for next. Chapters: 0:00 Meet Laura Ward, CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas 1:00 What Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas does, and why it's free 2:00 Nine job centers across Dallas County 3:00 How Workforce Solutions partners with Dallas College and EMC 4:00 Meet career advisor Tasia Lewis and the Young Adult Program 5:00 Tyreon's story: from a friend's recommendation to the program 6:00 Why Tyreon chose the electrical technician pathway 7:00 A customer-choice approach to career coaching 8:00 Getting the word out to more young people 9:00 Who's eligible: not just youth, not just one age group 9:30 What Tyreon could earn, from the high $60,000s to six figures 11:00 Skills assessments, job shadowing, and mentorship 12:00 Inside the classroom: safety, wiring, and hands-on training 13:00 What happens after graduation: the follow-up program 14:00 The real barriers to access, from awareness to a flat tire 15:00 How AI is reshaping the workforce, not just eliminating jobs 17:00 How Workforce Solutions works with employers 18:00 Advice for a recent high school grad who doesn't have a plan 19:30 How the program is funded 20:30 A new text campaign reaching recent graduates 21:00 A new Irving South center opening this fall 22:00 Why Tasia loves being a case manager 23:00 Tyreon's next step: job placement through UEI 24:00 Tracking outcomes and data ahead of the 2027 legislative session

    Promise to Paycheck Ep. 4 | From Job Center to 6-Figure Career: How Workforce Solutions Connects Dallas County Residents to Paychecks

  2. Aug 13

    Excellence for Every Student: How Two Superintendents Are Closing the Gap Between School and Career

    Excellence for Every Student: How Two Superintendents Are Closing the Gap Between School and Career Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, Superintendent of Dallas ISD, and Dr. Rick Lopez, Superintendent of Garland ISD, join Promise to Paycheck to discuss how their districts are moving students past the old choice between college and career, and toward a system where both paths lead to the same outcome: a livable wage. Guest host Dr. Usamah Rodgers leads the conversation, covering the three-way partnership with Dallas College, how each district uses labor market data to decide which career pathways to build or cut, and why closing the "handoff" gap between school and industry matters as much as the credential itself. Key Topics Discussed: The commitment to ensuring every student has access to a living wage pathway in Dallas County and TexasThe foundational belief in excellence in education for every student as a driver for college and career readiness initiativesStrategies for identifying and supporting students who might otherwise be left out of traditional college or career pathwaysThe evolution of programs such as P-TECH, early college high schools, and standalone career institutes, and their partnership with Dallas College and industry leadersThe role of intentional culture-setting and high expectations within school districts to break cycles of poverty through opportunityApproaches to redefining “vocational” and career education to highlight high-skill, high-demand, and high-paying careersThe importance of partnerships to create seamless transitions for students and prevent them from getting lost in the handoff after graduationLessons learned from expanding innovative models, such as scaling early college and P-TECH programs across high schoolsThe need for program flexibility and responsiveness to industry trends, student interests, and local economic demandsEarly career exposure in middle and high school to inform student choice and ensure all students see available opportunities as accessibleThe impact of college credit accumulation (e.g., 15+ hours) on student confidence and long-term educational persistenceThe vital role of business and industry in supporting student internships, job fairs, financial stewardship, and advocacy for meaningful credentialsConcerns about overemphasis on standardized testing versus real-world readiness and CCMR (College, Career, Military Readiness) Support our work by subscribing to Promise to Paycheck and sharing this episode with others committed to building pathways to living-wage careers. Learn more about our work at https://economicmobilitycenter.org.

    Excellence for Every Student: How Two Superintendents Are Closing the Gap Between School and Career

  3. Jul 10

    It's Not Just About the First Job: Rethinking the Promise of Higher Ed

    Dr. Eric Ban welcomes Dr. Warren von Eschenbach , President of the University of North Texas at Dallas, for an in-depth conversation about pathways to economic mobility and the evolving mission of UNT Dallas. They discuss the university's 15th anniversary as a standalone institution, its unique place as Dallas’ only public university, and the impact this has had on the local community. Dr. Warren highlights the significance of UNT Dallas being deeply intertwined with the Dallas County Promise initiative, which now serves as the entryway for approximately 75% of their students, many of whom are first-generation college attendees. They also talk about student success strategies, with Dr. Warren describing tailored supports such as wraparound services, embedded tutors, success coaches, and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students not only academically but also for career advancement. He shares stories, including that of an 89-year-old grandmother who completed her degree after years of dedication. They also discuss current and future directions for the university, such as interdisciplinary programs like a new Bachelor of Arts in Cybersecurity, deeper collaborations with industry partners, innovative teacher residency programs, and efforts to create a more cohesive higher education ecosystem in Dallas. They also cover the importance of cross-sector partnerships, affordability, and the broader transformative value of higher education for individuals and the Dallas community at large. Key Topics Discussed: UNT Dallas’ growth as Dallas' only public four-year university and its 15-year milestoneThe foundational role of the Dallas County Promise in shaping UNT Dallas’ student body and missionBenefits of cross-sector collaboration through the Promise Advisory Board, emphasizing representation from universities, school districts, employers, funders, and nonprofitsStrategies to support first-generation and underrepresented students, including wraparound services, summer bridge programs, embedded tutors, and success coachesExperiential learning initiatives supported by a $7 million state grant, focusing on building workforce-relevant and enduring human skillsCreation of interdisciplinary academic pathways, such as the new Bachelor of Arts in cybersecurity blending technical expertise with communication skillsEfforts to make higher education accessible and affordable, including the Trailblazer Tuition Trust program for students from lower-income familiesInnovative residency programs in teacher education, in partnership with Dallas ISD and state funding, allowing student teachers to earn salaries and benefits while completing trainingThe value of on-campus employment and partnerships aligning student work opportunities with their studies to support financial stability and skill-buildingCommitment to the transformational, not just transactional, power of higher education—highlighting social capital, personal development, and long-term career readinessThe drive toward greater collaboration among higher education institutions, aiming for aligned processes, shared language, and simplified pathways for students and familiesThe importance of interdependence among educational, government, and philanthropic partners to achieve collective impact for the community

    It's Not Just About the First Job: Rethinking the Promise of Higher Ed

  4. May 14

    Building Pathways To Living-Wage Careers

    Welcome to Promise to Paycheck. In this episode, Dr. Eric Ban sits down with Dr. Justin Lonon of Dallas College and Justin Williams from the Commit Partnership to explore the transformative work happening in Dallas County around economic mobility and living wage pathways. Together, they discuss the origins of the Dallas County Promise, the collaborative journey among educational institutions, policymakers, and employers, and the bold vision to double living-wage attainment in the region by 2040. They discuss how innovative partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless commitment to student success are reshaping the educational and workforce landscape in North Texas. They also talk about what matters when it comes to policy changes, dual credit programs, employer engagement, and community governance, along with what the future could look like when every student has a real shot at a sustainable career. Learn how Dallas County is setting the pace for economic mobility and hear the stories of impact, collaboration, and hope shaping the next generation. Key Topics Discussed: The promise of economic mobility in Dallas County and the goal for every student to access a path to a living wageDallas College’s role as a bridge between education and workforce pipelines, expanding opportunity through initiatives like the Rising Star Scholarship and P-TECH programsThe importance of strong regional partnerships—schools, colleges, and employers—working together to support student success and economic advancementThe shift from philanthropic to sustainable public funding via policy changes (HB3 for K12 and HB8 for community colleges), incentivizing results and continuous improvementInvestments in dual credit and early college high schools, enabling thousands of students to earn credentials before graduationThe significance of community governance via advisory boards, collective data analysis, and trust-building for steering the region’s progressLong-term ambitions: Dallas College’s Vision 2030 for credential production, reducing poverty, and closing opportunity gapsThe need to engage students earlier in high school and expose them to diverse career paths and postsecondary options, with adult advisors playing a crucial belief-building rolePersonalizing education and workforce experiences through innovative technology, data systems, and year-round advisingEmployer engagement: aligning workforce demand with student preparation through sector strategies, industry partnerships, and new approaches to talent pipeline forecasting

    Building Pathways To Living-Wage Careers

  5. May 12

    Welcome to Promise to Paycheck

    Promise to Paycheck is a new podcast from the Economic Mobility Center, hosted by Dr. Eric Ban. Every episode digs into the real stories, systems, data, and partnerships driving economic mobility across North Texas and beyond — from designing better career pathways to understanding which credentials actually pay off. Joining the conversation are students, leaders, educators, employers, and innovators rethinking how people move through our education systems and into one of the strongest regional economies in the world. Because behind every statistic is a story — and when students have the right support, opportunity, and guidance, everything can change.

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About

Promise to Paycheck is a podcast from the Economic Mobility Center, hosted by Dr. Eric Ban. Every episode explores the real stories, systems, data, and partnerships working to make economic mobility a reality across North Texas and beyond. From students navigating college as first-generation learners to chancellors, CEOs, and employers reshaping career pathways, Promise to Paycheck connects the big ideas to the human experiences behind them — asking what's working, what's not, and what it will take to build a regional ecosystem where every student has a path to a living wage and a career that transforms their family's future.

Information

  • Creator
    Economic Mobility Center
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Economic Mobility Center
  • Show Website
    Promise to Paycheck