How Will California Educate Its Future Workforce?

With the largest population of public school students in the country, and an even larger workforce, California has a lot riding on educating its future workers. 

Pressed by economic and technological shifts and facing enrollment declines, how will the state think outside the box—employing non-traditional learning approaches to remain competitive? Will this mean reimagining the state’s mission to provide quality public higher education, or devising new ways to leverage “cradle-to-career” data to drive student and worker success? Will AI be student, teacher, or aide in our classrooms? And how will regions like the Inland Empire forge strong career pathways for future workers who want to join booming healthcare, manufacturing, and green technology sectors? 

Zócalo heads to Riverside for the Inland Empire Community Foundation’s 2026 Policy & Philanthropy Summit to host a free pre-summit conversation moderated by CalMatter's Adam Echelman with health workforce manager Vicky Bocanegra, higher education and workforce policy leader Su Jin Jez, and Growing Inland Achievement president and CEO Ashish Vaidya on how best to prepare California’s students for the big, bright world ahead.

Stick around after the conversation for free food and drinks and networking!

This pre-summit event is free of charge. Continue the conversation at the 2026 Policy & Philanthropy Summit! Purchase your tickets here and use the code ZOCALO2026 to receive 20% off general admission pricing.