As local businesses and corporations seek a more skilled workforce, the Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership last week vowed to cultivate and nurture more Lisbeth Maldonados.
Maldonado was among those featured at the nonprofit’s annual Vision T3: Pathways to Possibilities at Tarrant County College. Maldonado, a graduate of Diamond Hill-Jarvis, has earned a degree in international economics from TCU and is pursuing a master’s in business analytics, also at the landmark Fort Worth institution.
She was a face of this year’s theme on building strong career pathways through education.
“As a student at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School, I never imagined how far my journey would take me,” Maldonado said. “My passion for business and entrepreneurship was shaped by personal experiences, especially after losing my father during my senior year of high school and stepping in to help run his small business. That experience, along with the support of mentors and organizations like T3, inspired me to pursue higher education.”
Hosted in collaboration with the Fort Worth Mayor’s Council on Education and Workforce and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ Advance Together grant, Vision T3 recognized progress made over the past year in support of students on pathways to academic and career success.
Leaders from across DFW gathered to discuss the how they can prepare students to launch their success and support them along their educational journey.
In addition to Maldonado, speakers included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County Executive Director Robert Sturns, and Autobahn Fort Worth President Brendan Harrington.
T3 Partnership also presented JPMorganChase with the first-ever T3 Champion Award for its commitment to workforce development and economic mobility.
“JPMorganChase has invested over $70 million in Texas to power inclusive growth and expand access to opportunity,” said Natalie Young Williams, president and CEO of the T3 Partnership. “In communities like ours, they’re supporting programs that help students gain skills, connect with employers, and build careers that sustain families and fuel our economy.”
With North Texas experiencing rapid growth, T3 Partnership’s mission to cultivate homegrown talent and position students to confidently enter the local workforce is more vital than ever.
“In collaboration with school districts, institutions of higher education, industry leaders, and the community, T3 Partnership has made significant strides in supporting students to identify the best-fit educational pathway that will lead to in-demand job opportunities, family-sustaining wages, and allow them to build their futures here in Tarrant County,” Young Williams said. “This work directly connects education with economy, preparing students for our region’s growing workforce.”
This year, T3 launched Hire2Hundred, an initiative connecting 200 Tarrant County graduates with 200 career-launching opportunities in high-demand industries across North Texas.
Maldonado will soon be one of those producing as a member of North Texas’ workforce. She is also now mentoring young teens like herself only a few years ago as a T3 ambassador.
“My path led me to become a T3 Ambassador so I could help other students, especially first-generation students, navigate their own journey,” she says. “Seeing the Fort Worth business community invest in education gives me hope. It’s how we drive economic growth and stability for our future success.”