In this episode of The Nonprofit Exchange, Hugh Ballou speaks with Van Ton-Quinlivan about why workforce development must be understood as a collaborative community effort, not the responsibility of any single organization. Van explains that healthcare workforce development offers a powerful model for nonprofit leaders because the same principles apply across many fields: people need trusted guides, clear pathways, practical training, and community encouragement to move toward meaningful work.
Van shares her own story of coming to the United States from Vietnam as a child and how access to education helped her family rebuild. That experience shaped her lifelong commitment to opening doors for others. Her work today focuses on helping people gain the credentials and confidence needed to enter healthcare careers, especially in allied health roles that are essential to community well-being.
A central theme of the conversation is the “three-legged stool” of workforce development: employers, educators, and community organizations. Employers define the skills needed and offer the jobs. Educators help close the gap between current ability and workforce readiness. Nonprofits and community organizations serve as trusted connectors who invite people into new possibilities, help them understand available pathways, and support them as they take the next step.
The conversation also highlights the dignity of opportunity. Nonprofits are not called simply to rescue people, but to help them recognize their gifts, build confidence, and see a future they may not yet imagine for themselves. Van notes that many people in every community have untapped potential but need encouragement, information, and access to the right pathway.
Hugh and Van also explore inclusion, accessibility, and the importance of recognizing talent among people who are often overlooked, including individuals with disabilities, those with lived experience, adults returning to work, and young people seeking meaningful career exposure. Van points out that some career pathways, such as peer support roles, actually depend on lived experience as a qualification.
The episode closes with a practical challenge for nonprofit leaders: identify one action this week that can help someone see a future in healthcare, in your organization, or in another meaningful career path. Workforce development is not only about filling jobs; it is about changing the trajectory of lives by building pathways of trust, dignity, opportunity, and collaboration.
More information at https://futurohealth.org/
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