nexEO

Why people stay, why they leave — and how we create places they choose to call home.

What makes people stay? What pushes them away? And what does it really take to build a region where people don’t just land, but choose to live, grow, and thrive?

This session begins with a simple truth: thriving communities are built on strong foundations, expanded through opportunity, and sustained by impact that lasts for generations. That’s why we invest in early childhood care and education — because no parent should have to choose between earning a living and caring for their child. It’s why we fuel workforce innovation and economic advancement — because every young person deserves a future worth staying for.

But these aren’t separate issues. They’re chapters in the same story: a story about whether our region can be a place where people live well, stay longer, and build brighter futures.

Thriving communities don’t just need opportunity. They need spaces that support health, connection, and a sense of belonging. The EO Hub proved what’s possible: transforming an old Kmart into a regional anchor for childcare, workforce development, and community life. And just ahead lies our next bold step — one that builds on this momentum and reimagines how space can serve shared potential. From ideas to infrastructure, from talk to transformation, you’ll get a glimpse of what’s next at nexEO.

Because the future doesn’t start with a job or a school. It starts with a sense of belonging. And we must GO beyond programs and GO toward places that nurture possibility: places that are built for people, powered by purpose, and sustained through connection.

This session will challenge attendees to see the deep connections between care, career, and community — and to recognize their own role in shaping what comes next. Talent is mobile. So is potential. But belonging is local. And we must build the systems and spaces that make staying not just possible — but irresistible.

Join us to explore how care, career, and community come together to create places people don’t just pass through, but plant roots.

Why childcare isn’t just a family issue — it’s an opportunity for workforce, community, and regional success.

Our region has two challenges standing in the way of a thriving future: we don’t have enough childcare, and what’s available is too expensive for many families. These aren’t just personal hardships — they are structural barriers that ripple across our workforce, our economy, and our communities.

If we want people to work here, raise families here, and stay here, we must make it easier to access care here.

This session reframes childcare not as a private concern, but as core infrastructure for regional progress. It’s a challenge facing every sector, and it’s a business issue just as much as a family one. Without accessible, affordable childcare, employers struggle to retain workers, young families look elsewhere, and our region loses momentum. The stakes are high, but the opportunity is even higher.

In this powerful Next Voices Talk, you’ll hear from regional leaders, employers, and changemakers working at the intersection of childcare, business, and economic development. You’ll learn how EO and partners are already driving innovation in early childhood systems — and see where your leadership, resources, and relationships can plug into the work to accelerate impact across the region.

This isn’t just about what some call “daycare". It’s about economic resilience, talent attraction, family retention, and community well-being. The people solving this aren’t only educators. They’re also economic developers, business leaders, and civic partners committed to building systems that work for everyone.

Join us to explore why investing in care is the first step toward investing in the future.

Because the future of this region doesn’t start with a job, it starts with a child. And we need every leader in the room to GO with us.

Highlighting the path and preparing for the journey.

The region doesn’t lack talent. It lacks clear, connected, and supported pathways to jobs and opportunities. Every day, young people in our region navigate uncertainty about their futures — not because they aren’t capable, but because the road ahead isn’t visible, accessible, or aligned with real opportunity.

We can’t afford to let young people fall through the cracks or leave altogether. If we want to grow our economy, we have to grow our talent and keep them here.

This session spotlights the real work of building a workforce that stays. We’ll explore what it takes to connect awareness, education, and experience — and why early, intentional exposure to career possibilities is one of the most powerful tools we have to close opportunity gaps.

In this Next Voices Talk, you’ll hear from regional leaders and innovators working to illuminate the path for young people. From career awareness in middle school to skill-building in high school to internships and apprenticeships that open real doors. You’ll see how EO and its partners are activating a system where young people are inspired, informed, and supported at every step. You’ll see how you can help expand that momentum through your own role, voice, and influence.

Because awareness unlocks opportunity, and you can’t dream about a job you’ve never seen.

We must GO earlier and GO together to build a future-ready workforce — one that doesn’t just participate in the economy, but helps drive it.

Join us to reimagine what’s possible when awareness meets access, and young people don’t just find a path. They help pave it.