Camden Rotary Club will welcome Dr. Jason Judd, Executive Director of Educate Maine, to its online meeting at noon on Tuesday, November 10.

Judd will lead a presentation and discussion about the important connection between education and economic prosperity. He will discuss MaineSpark, a statewide coalition focused on increasing the number of adults with degrees or credentials of value to meet the needs of Maine's employers.

“Through increasing high school graduation rates, developing education and career pathways for young people and adults to pursue occupations in high demand industries, and supporting upskilling programs through higher education institutions and employers, Maine can address the workforce challenges and help families thrive throughout Maine,” Judd says.

Anyone who wants to attend this Zoom meeting can obtain connection details from steph.griffinsg00@gmail.com.

Judd’s presentation, “Education is the Key to Economic Prosperity, is the third in a series in a monthly series the club is hosting to foster learning about and finding creative solutions for economic challenges in the Midcoast. The two previous speakers were Martha Bentley, director of economic development coordination and small business ombudsman for the State of Maine, and Bill Najpauer, executive director of the Mid Coast Economic Development District  (MCEDD).

The speaker series stems from the club’s recent efforts to identify community needs as part of a comprehensive strategic planning process. Members’ interviews with local government officials, business leaders, nonprofit managers, and other stakeholders pointed to workforce development as a means of alleviating poverty, food insecurity, and other difficulties faced by residents.

During its 95-year history, Camden Rotary Club has supported charitable causes through grantmaking and hands-on service. Members learn about community needs during their weekly meetings.