Sankofa Leadership supports workforce systems and the employers who partner with them to design and deliver services that are more person-centered, effective, and sustainable. Our work helps bridge the gap between workforce development programs and the day-to-day realities of the workplaces where people are expected to thrive. We partner with workforce intermediaries, human services agencies, and employers to strengthen program design, service delivery, and operational systems — ensuring that workforce initiatives not only place people in jobs but also support long-term stability, retention, and growth.

Why Person-Centered Workforce Systems Matter

Research consistently shows that workforce outcomes are shaped not only by skills training, but by how systems and workplaces are designed to support people once they arrive.

• The U.S. Department of Labor has found that retention — not placement — is the primary driver of long-term earnings gains, with early job exits accounting for a significant share of workforce program underperformance.
• Studies in organizational psychology indicate that employees with supportive supervision and clear expectations are more than twice as likely to remain in their roles beyond the first year, particularly among workers navigating barriers to employment.
• National workforce and human services research indicates that fragmented systems, unclear roles, and compliance-heavy service delivery models contribute to staff burnout and participant disengagement, ultimately reducing program effectiveness.

Person-centered workforce systems respond to these realities by aligning program design, service delivery, and employer practices around clarity, trust, accountability, and human connection.

Our Approach

Sankofa Leadership applies person-centered principles across workforce systems — from program formation and launch to employer engagement and frontline practice. Our work is informed by direct experience supporting the development of Integrated Service Delivery Networks across multiple counties, where workforce, human services, and community partners collaborate to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.

We support organizations to:

• Design workforce initiatives that center on participant experience and long-term success
• Equip teams and supervisors to deliver services with clarity, consistency, and care
• Align employer practices with workforce development goals
• Build systems that reduce fragmentation and support coordinated service delivery

Rather than treating training, systems, and operations as separate efforts, we help organizations design and implement workforce systems that work — and prepare people to operate within them effectively.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Our workforce systems support may include:

• Program and service delivery design for workforce initiatives
• Implementation support during program launch or scale-up
• Training for supervisors, frontline staff, and employer partners in person-centered practice
• Support for cross-partner alignment and coordination
• Tools and frameworks that reinforce consistent, people-centered service delivery

This integrated approach ensures that workforce investments translate into stronger experiences for participants, more prepared employers, and better outcomes across the system.

Person-Centered Workforce Systems reflect Sankofa Leadership’s broader commitment to economic mobility, equity, and effective service delivery. By supporting both workforce systems and the employers connected to them, we help strengthen the full ecosystem that enables people to access opportunity and sustain success.