QUEENSBURY — Community leaders, educators, employers and changemakers are invited to attend the North Country Climate-Ready Workforce Roundtable on Thursday, Oct. 23, at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury.

This interactive event, hosted by the Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network (ACORN), will bring together voices from diverse economic sectors to explore the North Country’s climate resilience workforce needs and opportunities. The roundtable aims to elevate awareness across New York State about the unique challenges and innovations emerging from the Adirondack region’s rural communities.

Attendees will hear from keynote speakers, including former Assemblymember Billy Jones, vice president of strategic initiatives and workforce development at Clinton Community College, as well as Ana Williams-Bergen, coordinator of North Country Public Radio’s North Country at Work Project, and Frank Niepold, co-lead of NOAA’s Climate-Ready Workforce Program. Additional presentations from New York State agencies leading the way in workforce programs, BOCES and higher educational professionals, and businesses and organizations from diverse economic sectors will be featured.

The Climate-Ready Workforce Roundtable builds on a year of ACORN-led listening sessions across the 14 North Country counties, which revealed key needs: greater statewide awareness of the Adirondack region’s rural climate resilience challenges; support for aging populations and efforts to attract younger families; and the development of multidisciplinary workforce pathways in sectors such as forestry, agriculture, hospitality, outdoor recreation, renewable energy, construction, healthcare and emergency response.

ACORN is a partnership of The Wild Center, Paul Smith’s College and the Adirondack Research Consortium, working collaboratively to prepare North Country communities for the impacts of climate change.

“Investing in a climate-ready workforce is also an investment in the Adirondack economy and the long-term vitality of our region,” said Dan Fitts, executive director of the Adirondack Research Consortium.

Jen Kretser, director of climate initiatives at The Wild Center, said, “Science centers connect knowledge to everyday life. At The Wild Center, that means helping young people imagine what’s possible, gain skills that matter, and bring strength and resilience to their communities. We look forward to convening this important conversation on how we can prepare our communities for a more climate-resilient future.”

Zoe Smith, vice president of strategic initiatives at Paul Smith’s College, said, “Paul Smith’s College is proud to help lead efforts to build a climate-ready workforce for the rural North Country, preparing our students to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”

The North Country Climate-Ready Workforce Roundtable is made possible by a Generous Acts grant from the Adirondack Community Foundation, with event sponsorship provided by Champlain-Hydro Power Express, AES, Fisher Associates, Adirondack North Country Association, Adirondack Council and Empire State Forest Products Association. North Country Public Radio is the Media Sponsor for the event.

Learn more and register at www.adkresearch.org/events.

The Adirondack Research Consortium is focused on stimulating research and acting as a knowledge-based forum and communicator among disciplines and diverse interests, primarily through its annual research conferences and the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies.