Fontana, Calif.– Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren traveled to Washington D.C. last week where she participated as a panelist in a National Association of Workforce Boards roundtable to discuss workforce development issues at the local level. Mayor Warren is on a mission to change the perception of manufacturing and connecting businesses to a labor pool that is job ready. In addition to the panel discussion, she also attended a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to discuss how business and education can collaborate to better prepare students for future careers.

Before heading to the nation’s capital, Mayor Warren held a “Business, Manufacturing, and Education” roundtable as part of the Mayor’s Manufacturing Council in partnership with the Fontana Chamber of Commerce. She told the group of attendees from the business, education, government, logistics and manufacturing sectors, that she was heading to D.C. to advocate for resources to establish apprenticeships and internships for youth.

“It is an honor to work on behalf of the people of Fontana and share our challenges and workforce needs with our nation’s decision makers,” says Mayor Acquanetta Warren. “Our work is only beginning, but I’m confident that together with our businesses and educators, we will bring results.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently appointed Mayor Warren as the Chair of the Manufacturing and Career and Technical Education Task Force. She plans to work with her Mayor’s Manufacturing Council and the Fontana Chamber to bridge the gap between the business community and our educators to ensure students are prepared for today’s workforce.