CAEL Forms National Community of Practice Dedicated to Supporting Veteran Learners, Workers, and Their Families

INDIANAPOLIS – CAEL, a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to helping adult learners navigate the pathways between education and employment, today announced the formation of its newest national community of practice. Committed to military-connected learners, workers, and their families, the group is free to join for CAEL members. 

The vision for the community of practice, developed alongside a CAEL member work group over the past year, is to create a national network of informed educators, employers, and other mission-aligned organizations. The network will share knowledge and initiatives to ensure military-connected individuals can leverage their skills, experiences, and experiential learning to seamlessly transition from military service to education to thriving careers that drive equitable economic mobility and community prosperity.

“As we observe Veterans Day, we are reminded not only of the sacrifices our servicemembers make during their enlistment, but of their vital roles in the workforce as they enter civilian education and employment pathways,” said Doug Heckman, vice president of partnerships at CAEL. “The working group creates new opportunities to support this critical population of adult learners by doing what CAEL does best – amplifying the impact of higher ed, employers, workforce organizations, chambers of commerce, and CBOs through focused collaboration.”

The working group will focus on identifying, implementing, and improving best practices that help veterans and their families access and navigate rewarding education-employment pathways. Focus areas will include transition support and success, military credit for prior learning, collaborative multi-sector partnerships, and developing robust civilian career pathways tailored to the unique skills and experiences of military personnel.

Members interested in joining should complete this interest form. The community will begin meeting in early 2025 and already has established a dedicated virtual community on the CAEL Member Hub.  Learn more about CAEL’s work for military-connected learners and workers on CAEL's website. 

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, CAEL fosters a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals, and their communities thrive. A national membership organization established in 1974, CAEL is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. Learn more at cael.org and stradacollaborative.org.

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