Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education Brenda Dann-Messier will give the keynote address to the "Cradle to Career Symposium – Building Youth Success from Aspen to Parachute," on Friday, Feb. 15, in Aspen, Colo. Dann-Messier’s remarks will focus on engaging entire communities to use innovative approaches to help schools increase youth success by creating educational and mentoring opportunities for youth.
The symposium is part of Aspen Community Foundation's Cradle to Career Initiative, a collaborative partnership aimed at focusing funding, knowledge and attention on preparing the next generation of the region's youth for productive lives. It will bring together national leaders to share their knowledge of how communities can come together to dramatically improve outcomes for young people.
As assistant secretary, Dann-Messier administers the Education Department's programs on adult, career and technical education, as well as community colleges and correctional education.