KPBS Evening Edition

Town Hall Explores How California Community Colleges Can Build A Stronger Workforce

By Dwane Brown / KPBS Evening Edition Anchor/Reporter

Published March 18, 2015 at 2:58 PM PDT

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

Members of the California Community Colleges Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy are pictured meeting in San Diego, March 18, 2015.

Getting better paying jobs for more community college students was the theme of a Wednesday meeting in San Diego.

The meeting, which brought together education and business leaders, focused on increasing opportunities for students in the science, technology and engineering fields.

During the meeting, Mayor Kevin Falconer said 40 percent of jobs in San Diego's STEM fields don't require a degree from a four-year institution.

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The town hall was hosted by the California Community Colleges Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy, which is tasked with developing aplan to make community college more responsive to the state’s economy

Van Ton-Quinlivan, the vice chancellor of workforce and economic development for California Community Colleges, said the state needs to create one million more middle-skilled workers.

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Dwane Brown

Brown started his career with KPBS in the early '90s as a radio anchor and reporter before expanding his broadcast news experience at CBS radio and television in New York. He’s been a news director, anchor, reporter and correspondent in San Francisco and has worked as a writer, producer, assignment editor and talk show host. He returned to KPBS in 2005. As the former anchor for KPBS Evening Edition, Brown provided an in-depth look at issues and stories relevant to San Diego. He spent nearly seven years as anchor/host of Morning Edition on KPBS Radio. Between 2006 and 2010, the San Diego Press Club named Brown "Best Morning Newscaster" in San Diego Radio. In 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists also named him "Best Morning Newscaster." During that time he managed and taught a two-week high school boot camp for aspiring radio reporters at KPBS in conjunction with the California Chicano News Media Association. Brown studied English/Journalism at San Diego State University and is a Fast Trac graduate from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He’s a popular public speaker and Toastmaster International member. He’s been master of ceremonies for the American Red Cross, VA Medical Center San Diego, Urban League, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and numerous foundations. Brown is also a voice actor for movie, documentary, television, radio and Internet projects.

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