Ashley Putnam

Ashley Putnam Director, Economic Growth and Mobility Project Greater Philadelphia Area Connect Connect with Ashley Putnam Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service See contact info 500+ connections Researcher, advocate, and policy nerd. Passionate about workforce development, economic equity, and sustainable solutions to poverty. An organizer and connector with 10+ years experience in policy and management. Articles & activity 1,374 followers Introducing Ashley Putnam, Director of the Economic Growth & Mobility Project Ashley’s profile photo Ashley Putnam Published on LinkedIn https://www.phil.frb.org/community-development/publications/cascade/98/02_introducing-ashley-Putnam Cascade sat down with Ashley Putnam, the new Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Economic Growth & Mobility Project (EGMP). The interview below provides insights into Ashley’s background and plans for the future of the EGMP. Ashley, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and your background? I come to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from the New York Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. My role there was to oversee the connection between economic development and the workforce. I facilitated conversations with industry experts, oversaw our local hiring policies, and worked on place-based approaches to workforce development in conjunction with economically changing neighborhoods. My role was focused on addressing economic development through the lens of inclusivity and bringing best practices to bear on the ways we help connect people to quality employment with the opportunity for advancement. You joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to lead the EGMP. Can you tell us what this initiative is and why it is important? The EGMP is unique in the Federal Reserve System for its focus on bringing research into practice. I believe the System and the Bank are particularly well-positioned to discuss the economic imperative of investing in economic mobility. Research shows that sustainable economic growth is inclusive growth and that addressing economic mobility is essential to growing our local and regional economies. I also appreciate that the EGMP focuses on Research in Action through community-driven solutions. My work in local government made me a big believer in local solutions to local problems. The collaborations being built through this Research in Action model can serve as examples for other regions. How did you become interested/involved in these issues? I have always been interested in the intersection of research and practice. I spent my first several years in the workforce development field providing direct services to job seekers living below the poverty line. The experience showed me firsthand how economic shifts after the recession had impacted workers. Motivated by that interest in policy, I founded a fellowship program, the Work First Fellowship, which brought young people into a year of service to work with low-income job seekers and conduct research on the barriers facing these communities. While getting my master’s in public policy, I also spent time at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the research utilization division. I have always been interested in how research informs the often complicated realities of putting policy into practice. These experiences led me to my work in the mayor’s office and my long-term interest in providing economic stability to families that are struggling. How can lessons learned from other communities be helpful here in the Third District? The Research in Action Labs provide a model we hope to lift up and help other communities take on as they address barriers to economic mobility. The real takeaway from these labs is the process, because each community’s solutions will likely be different. As you can imagine, the strategy for addressing equitable transit in a large urban area versus a postindustrial town will be very different. I think the lesson from these labs thus far is that overcoming long-term barriers to economic mobility requires collaboration across sectors. The biggest success of these labs is getting everyone at the table to learn from one another, build trust, and find ways to come together around a shared understanding of problems facing the community. The research informs this process at every step of the way, from defining the problem to leveraging best practices and evaluating potential solutions. In many ways, the Research in Action Labs are a model for forming community partnerships and applying data to resolve issues around local economic equitability. What partners will be needed for the EGMP to achieve success? Each Research in Action Lab will need a set of core, committed partners who care about economic mobility and are ready to work together to understand and address the problem with research-informed solutions. It is important to have people represented from all sectors: private, public, nonprofit, and philanthropic. The key components of a Research in Action Lab are a committed backbone organization, a council that brings together local stakeholders, a shared understanding and definition of what is happening in the community, and a vision for what the partnership would like to achieve. Partnerships take work, time, and often commitments of resources, not to mention a willingness to consider a different perspective on a current problem. For and the EGMP labs to be successful, we need partners who are willing to invest their resources into trying something different. What can we expect to see from the EGMP in the coming years? What issues will the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia focus on? This year we are beginning to set in motion some of the ideas generated as part of the Northeast Pennsylvania Equitable Transit Planning Council. We will also be diving into our next Research in Action Lab on workforce development in Philadelphia. The next lab after Philadelphia will look at equitable growth, and we do not yet have a community selected. The EGMP will continue to focus on building inclusive solutions as we look to expand the Research in Action Lab model to other communities in the Third District that represent the diversity of challenges faced by rural, postindustrial, and small and large urban areas. Our focus continues to be on economic mobility and tearing down barriers while we build ladders to opportunity. 3 Comments Like Comment Share See all articles No alt text provided for this image Bring people together. Form catalytic partnerships. Advocate and open doors for those not in the room. Leverage research. Change narratives. Disrupt systems. Ashley commented 9 Likes No alt text provided for this image I love the “workforce thinkers and doers.” You are definitely one of those! Thanks for welcome me into the Philly workforce family and your continual thought (and action!) leadership from JEVS. Ashley commented 1 Like No alt text provided for this image So great to share this stage with an incredible, dynamic, committed group of women. Thank you Uva! Ashley commented 1 Like See all activity Experience Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Director, Economic Growth and Mobility Project Company NameFederal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Dates EmployedDec 2017 – Present Employment Duration1 yr 4 mos LocationGreater Philadelphia Area The Economic Growth and Mobility Project is a new initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia dedicated to promoting equal access to economic opportunity for all. The project leverages research to form catalytic partnerships among private, public, and philathropic partners around long-term economic solutions. EGMP is a multilevel effort to bring entrepreneurial solutions to achieve inclusive economic growth and create pathways out of poverty. NYC Office of the Mayor Economic Development Advisor, Office of Workforce Development Company NameNYC Office of the Mayor Dates EmployedJan 2016 – Dec 2017 Employment Duration2 yrs LocationGreater New York City Area Oversaw implementation of Career Pathways recommendations for New York City’s workforce development system, including collaboration across agencies to improve system coordination and create pathways into middle class jobs with family supporting wages. Managed HireNYC, New York City’s targeted hiring program that connects economic development a... See more HireNYC HireNYC The Work First Foundation Fellowship Director Company NameThe Work First Foundation Dates EmployedMar 2013 – Dec 2015 Employment Duration2 yrs 10 mos LocationNew York, NY Founded public policy fellowship program which focuses on issues of urban poverty and workforce development. Managed workforce development programs across five locations including staff, fellows, and curriculum. Oversaw recruitment efforts to engage young people interested in social impact and policy work. Directed team of fellows in creation ... See more APPAM - Evaluation of America Works Contextualized Literacy Programs APPAM - Evaluation of America Works Contextualized Literacy Programs U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Research Utilization Company NameU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Dates EmployedJun 2014 – Aug 2014 Employment Duration3 mos Responsible for research and analysis of innovative approaches to long-term housing problems. Translated research into policy implications for HUD stakeholders. Contributor to The Edge magazine. Mercado Global Community Engagement Manager Company NameMercado Global Dates EmployedAug 2011 – Sep 2012 Employment Duration1 yr 2 mos LocationPanajachel, Guatemala Directed development and strategy of private donor program. Managed relationships with major donors, including cultivation strategy, insight trips and individual asks. Planned and executed donor trips to Guatemala connecting American business leaders with rural women entrepreneurs. Provided insight into to Mercado Global programs, model, and co... See more America Works, Inc Corporate Representative Company NameAmerica Works, Inc Dates EmployedMay 2009 – Jul 2011 Employment Duration2 yrs 3 mos LocationNew York, NY Coordinated with city agencies such as New York City Housing Authority and Department of Sanitation to help individuals living below the poverty level become self-sufficient through employment. Guided clients in resume writing, interview etiquette, and job search. Developed individualized employability plans based on participant's skills and int... See more Obama for America Field Organizer Company NameObama for America Dates EmployedSep 2008 – Nov 2008 Employment Duration3 mos LocationAltoona, PA Oversaw general election efforts in 98 precincts of rural and urban areas in Blair County, built and managed a grassroots organization of more than 250 volunteers, established and supervised a student organization which registered over 900 new voters in two weeks, managed 5 locations and trained 15 staff-level volunteers to implement get-out-t... See more Berlitz Instructional Supervisor and Service Representative Company NameBerlitz Dates EmployedOct 2007 – Sep 2008 Employment Duration1 yr LocationSanta Barbara, CA Hired and trained teachers for Berlitz Kids, Immerse and Converse, and semi-private instruction; managed over thirty instructors and language programs including Spanish, Japanese and Indonesian; oversaw administrative operations, coordinated classes and schedules; taught English-immersion classes and after-school Spanish classes Show fewer experiences Education NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Degree NameMaster of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Field Of StudyInternational Policy and Management Dates attended or expected graduation 2013 – 2015 Activities and Societies: NYU Wagner Cares, Co-Chair; Bridge Students for Social Innovation, Communications Chair Barnard College Barnard College Degree NameB.A. Field Of StudyAnthropology, Spanish Dates attended or expected graduation 2002 – 2006 Activities and Societies: Columbia Daily Spectator- Associate Photo Editor, Orchesis Dance Group- Public Relations Chair, Student Government Association Volunteer Experience Women's City Club of New York Task Force on Fair Work Company NameWomen's City Club of New York Dates volunteeredJul 2015 – Present Volunteer duration3 yrs 9 mos Cause Economic Empowerment Participated in Task Force on Fair Work and Predictable Schedules. Screened retail partners for fair scheduling practices. Planned forum on retail work and scheduling. NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Co- Chair- Recent Alumni Committee Company NameNYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Dates volunteeredSep 2016 – Present Volunteer duration2 yrs 7 mos Cause Education