Karla Yoder

Background

About Karla Yoder

I marry my passion for equity with systems thinking to increase economic opportunity for those historically excluded. Some examples of how I've lived this out- Advised the D.C. Workforce Investment Council on new initiatives and better coordinating with economic development for a more equitable recovery from COVID in the city- Supported communities in Georgia in developing career readiness initiatives that blended high school, college and internships- Researched and co-wrote a guidebook on labor market responsiveness for U.S. community college leadership- Designed and advised a project preparing Ghanaian youth for work opportunities while simultaneously strengthening the capacity and coordination of the construction sector; and - Established an economic empowerment department that served the clients of a legal aid organization in Zambia with microfinance loans. I excel in designing and launching programs, advising implementation to problem-solve and ensure they draw upon best practice, and measuring their success. My analysis skills help me translate the findings of assessments and research into actionable steps or the design of a winning grant proposal. Speaking of proposals, I'm a persuasive communicator who gets a lot of kudos on my writing. My passion is evident when presenting, I'm a practiced meeting facilitator and have negotiated more partnerships than I can recall. I'm always interested in connecting with others applying systems thinking and innovation to workforce and inclusive economic development.