Fed Communities

Connecting Communities: How Fed Data Tools Can Inform Economic Mobility
2026-02-05 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Watch On-Demand

Occupational and economic mobility are crucial for a healthy economy that supports all. Join us for a conversation about the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland’s Occupational Mobility Explorer (OME) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) tools. The OME sheds light on skills-based career pathways in the US labor market for jobseekers and employers. CLIFF tools help workers understand how career advancement decisions may affect public benefits, taxes, and tax credits. Together, these two tools can help workers and employers identify potential career advancement opportunities and better understand how such trajectories might better position them for greater economic stability.

The session will provide a brief overview of each tool and demonstrate how both can be used together to help inform individuals about their own economic mobility journey. This includes a better understanding of their possible career paths and the potential financial implications of specific occupational choices. Panelists from organizations working to leverage data resources to serve their communities will discuss skills-based hiring, navigating benefits cliffs, and fostering partnerships with employers.

Related resources:

Occupational Mobility Explorer

Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster

Fed Communities’ Benefits Cliff stories series

Powerful tool helps job seekers chart a path to higher-paying roles

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Speakers

Jill Avery-StossPresident & CEOThe Institute

Tracey EverettDirectorJobs for the Future

Kyle FeePolicy AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Mayra NunezProgram and Compliance ManagerCareerSource Central Florida

John ReesSenior Community and Economic Development AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Sergio GaleanoCommunity and Economic Development AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta(moderator)

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About Connecting Communities®

Real people. Real research. Real conversations.

Connecting Communities is a Federal Reserve-sponsored webinar series providing timely information on community and economic development issues. It complements Fed community development outreach initiatives conducted through the 12 regional Reserve Banks and Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Have questions about the program? Contact us.

Amenities and Office Vacancy Rates: What Really Draws Workers Back to the Office?
2026-02-11 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, join the Chicago Fed’s Economic Mobility Project for the virtual event, Amenities and Office Vacancy Rates: What Really Draws Workers Back to the Office? Office vacancy rates remain high across U.S. cities as employers experiment with hybrid work schedules and invest in workplace upgrades meant to lure employees back. But which features matter? Presenting new research, Chicago Fed business economist Martin Lavelle will explore how amenities, building age, and design choices influence office vacancy rates in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities across the nation. Also examining where common assumptions about return-to-office enticements falter, Lavelle will discuss how his recent research challenges some of the most popular narratives in commercial real estate.

The event will begin with framing remarks from Samir Mayekar of the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. Drawing from his experiences in city government and as an entrepreneur, Mayekar will set the broader context for why office market outcomes matter for developers, tenants, and workers, as well as for downtown vitality. Following Lavelle’s research presentation, there will be a panel discussion. Tracy Hadden Loh of Brookings Metro will offer her views on office markets through a national urban policy and downtown revitalization lens. Amy Binstein of Newmark will share her perspective on current commercial real estate dynamics. And Mayekar will return to connect the research and data to urban development challenges and opportunities in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities. The discussion will be moderated by Danny Ecker, who covers the commercial real estate landscape for Crain’s Chicago Business.

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Collaborative Pathways for Community Development Research: A Networking Event with the St. Louis Fed
2026-02-12 11:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Little Rock Branch, Stephens Building 111 Center St., Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201, United States
Join us to network with researchers from a range of disciplines and learn about engagement opportunities with the St. Louis Fed. Discover the broad set of community development resources—from programs and research to data tools—available to support your work, including our:

Community Development Research Fellows Program

Community Development Research Seminar Series

Federal Reserve Data Tools

And much, much more

This event will provide an opportunity to build relationships in the field, exchange ideas, and explore potential partnerships with fellow researchers representing multiple disciplines and from across the Fed’s Eighth District.

Lunch will be provided and parking will be validated.

Please feel free to share this event with others in your institution or organization who may be interested. There is no fee to attend the event, but you must register by Monday, Feb. 9.

Who might benefit from attending?

Researchers | Professors

Questions? Contact the Community Development team at communitydevelopment@stls.frb.org.

The opinions and statements expressed are those of the speakers and are intended only for informational purposes. They do not reflect official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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Agenda

All times are Central.

The virtual portion of the event will take place from 10-11:30 a.m.

11:30 am CT

Registration and Networking Lunch

12:15 pm CT

Welcome and OverviewMatuschka Lindo Briggs, Senior Vice President and Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisWilliam M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

12:25 pm CT

Overview of Community Development Work at the St. Louis FedNishesh Chalise, Senior Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1:00 pm CT

Community Development Research Fellows Program Jeffrey Cohen, Professor, University of ConnecticutSean Joe, Professor, Washington University in St. LouisAlice Kassens, Professor, Roanoke College

1:05 pm CT

Current Community Development Research ProjectsNishesh Chalise, Senior Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisLiz Deichmann, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisMike Eggleston, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisWilliam M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisNicole Sumers-Gabr, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1:50 pm CT

Closing RemarksWilliam M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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Where Could Reshoring Manufacturers Find Workers?
2026-02-12 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | This is a virtual-only event
In recent decades, manufacturing employment has fallen dramatically in the United States even as it has expanded globally. Policymakers have focused on trying to rebuild America’s manufacturing base through initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act and new tariff policies. But a crucial question remains: Who will fill these jobs if manufacturing returns to the United States? This Fed Talk will dive into research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland that addresses this issue.

Our discussion will highlight pools of potential manufacturing workers, including

Workers who could transition to manufacturing from lower-paying industries such as retail and food service

Young people entering the workforce who could begin careers in manufacturing

Working-age adults not currently in school or the workforce

Panelists will also explore which regions of the country have existing manufacturing clusters, where manufacturing employment has grown recently, and which areas have the strongest potential for workforce expansion. The discussion could help employers, workforce development professionals, and educators prepare for potential reshoring of manufacturing jobs by creating pathways to help people start manufacturing careers.

Panelists will take your questions following the presentation.

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Speakers

Marcia Ballinger, President, Lorain County Community College

Jacob Duritsky, Vice President, Strategy and Research, TEAM NEO

Annette Vickers, Senior Research Manager, ARM Institute

Stephan Whitaker, Senior Policy Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Moderator

Khaz Finley, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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Regional Economic Conditions: General Business
2026-02-24 09:00 - 09:30 (America/Chicago) | This is a virtual-only event
How are businesses doing currently across the Ninth District, and how do they feel about the near future?

Our Regional Outreach team recently surveyed businesses across the Ninth District to gauge current economic activity and the near-term outlook in different sectors. Join Regional Analyst Haley Chinander for a free webinar discussing the latest results from the January survey of businesses and learn about how they are dealing with current challenges.

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Agenda

9:00 am – 9:05 am CT

Welcome and REC webinar introduction

9:05 am – 9:25 am CT

Survey results

9:25 am – 9:30 am CT

Q&A

9:30 am CT

Webinar concludes

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