The City of Norfolk should be pursuing every avenue to land more high-paying jobs, but we have to make sure that our current Norfolk residents are ready and able to fill those roles.
A crucial part of this strategy involves strengthening our public education system. Our schools must provide a strong foundation that prepares students for the workforce or higher education. By working with Norfolk Public Schools to enhance Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and modernize curriculums, we can ensure that students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in high-demand fields. Improving public education is not just about academic achievement—it’s about creating a future where every student has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to Norfolk’s growth.
I’ll press to make sure the City of Norfolk is coordinating, supporting, and partnering with ODU, NSU, and TCC to offer training that directly correlates with the new jobs we secure. By partnering with these amazing educational institutions in our city, we can equip Norfolk residents with the skills needed to meet the demands of emerging industries, creating pathways to prosperity for our entire community.
We also need to create pathways for our citizens to fill the significant number of open city positions, as this fosters local pride and prosperity. This means creating clear avenues for our community members to step into these roles, eliminating exclusionary HR policies, and ensuring that residents have access to a reliable transportation system that gets them to work efficiently.
Together, we can create a community where every resident has the opportunity to succeed, and Norfolk becomes a city where prosperity is shared and everyone has a stake in our bright future.
Schools
Strong schools are the number one way that we can support young families. I’ve dedicated a whole section to "
Education Excellence".