KEY in Des Moines - Recruiting and Retaining Civic-Minded Professionals

Description

KEY in Des Moines stands for Keeping Educated Youth in Des Moines.  It is a program connecting employers with area colleges and universities for workforce attraction.  Every other month the group hosts free educational sessions.  KEY in Des Moines is a division of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce.

Recruiting and Retaining Civic-Minded Professionals
Colleges and universities are increasingly emphasizing high impact learning experiences for students including service learning courses, community engagement projects, and internships. These experiences have the power to build core skills including communication, ability to work across difference, problem-solving, and more. These skills make for valuable employees and community members who can put their passion and knowledge into action as civic-minded professionals. In this presentation we will share research and concepts about the importance of community experiences and help employers consider how to attract candidates with these skills, evaluate their experiences in the hiring process and retain them through similar workplace opportunities.

Speaker’s bio.
Emily J. Shields has served as executive director of Iowa Campus Compact (IACC) since 2011. She received a B.A. degree in journalism and political science from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit development at the University of Northern Iowa. Shields served as chief of staff for the Rebuild Iowa Office; a state agency created to coordinate Iowa’s recovery from the 2008 disasters and was senate liaison and policy adviser to Iowa’s governor. She has worked in field organizing and fundraising for political campaigns and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She is the co-chair of the National Campus Compact Network Operations Committee and serves on the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission, the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, the Grinnell College Prize Review Committee, and the Grand View University Business School Advisory Council.