We are honored to receive the 2025 WIOA Trailblazer Award from the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)—a national recognition of our commitment to building an equitable, community-driven workforce system that meets the needs of all in Seattle-King County.

In 2023, Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) formed the Task Force on Data, Access, Alignment, and Integration for Improved Workforce Outcomes, an executive task force formed from workforce development boards across the country, to explore how federal policies can better utilize existing workforce systems to deliver people-first, equity-centered results for all. Marie Kurose, CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, was honored to serve as a member of this task force. The principles and recommendations outlined in this report lean into the power of the nation’s workforce development system while remaining locally responsive and data-driven.