11/01/2025

Igniting 60 Years of Imagination, Amplifying Advocacy: NCDA’s National Career Development Month

By Kimberly Carothers

This November, the National Career Development Association (NCDA) is turning up the volume on National Career Development Month with bold, forward-looking initiatives designed to inspire, connect, and mobilize the field. At the heart of the celebration is a must-attend experience—a dynamic, free, virtual event that promises to spark fresh ideas, energize practitioners, and empower everyone to be stronger voices for change.

Amplifying Advocacy: Career Development in a Disrupted World of Work

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
12:00 – 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Presented FREE as part of Global Career Month 
(continuing education credit available for a fee)

REGISTER NOW: Amplifying Advocacy: Career Development in a Disrupted World of Work

*Not an NCDA member?  You’re still invited!  Simply create a free account through the link to secure your participation.

The world of work is shifting faster than ever—AI, rising living costs, service cuts, unemployment challenges. The real question everyone should be asking is: How do we move beyond acknowledging disruption to actually shaping solutions? The answers can be found by participating in National Career Development month events, particularly the free virtual event. During North America Career Week, NCDA—partnering with Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF) and the Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counseling (CERIC)—will bring together a powerful panel of leaders to chart a path forward. Together, we will explore how to engage with impact, adapt with creative resilience, and advocate more boldly than ever before, for our field and the people we serve.

Participants can expect to gain a toolkit for impact, which covers:

• Mobilizing Advocacy: Practical tools and strategies to amplify your voice and influence.
• Real-World Examples: Stories of innovation and action you can put into practice right away.
• Sector Leadership: A spotlight on career development as a vital driver of solutions in a disrupted world.
• Inspiration and Action: Fresh energy to thrive, even in times of turbulence and change.

This is more than a webinar—it is a call to action. Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and lead the way forward. The event is free to attend, with the option to add one CE hour for just $25.

A Legacy of Creativity: The Poetry & Art Contest

Alongside this energizing event, NCDA proudly continues one of its longest-running and most inspiring traditions: the Poetry & Art Contest. Now in its 60th year, this contest engages students and adults nationwide in creatively exploring the meaning of work and career development.

The 2025–2026 contest theme is The Evolution of Work: Careers in the Past, Present, and Future.

From milkmen and lamplighters to YouTubers and app developers, the world of work has never stopped evolving. This year’s theme challenges participants to look across time—celebrating the jobs of the past, reflecting on the work of today, and imagining the careers of tomorrow.

• What would a blacksmith think of a robotics engineer?
• How do the jobs of today build upon yesterday’s innovations?
• What possibilities lie ahead for the next generation?

Through poetry and artwork, participants will bring these stories to life—capturing how work evolves and transforms our lives.

Contest Divisions: Open to All

The contest has a place for every voice (view the Contest brochure for complete details):

• Primary: Grades K–2
• Intermediate: Grades 3–5
• Middle: Grades 6–8
• Senior: Grades 9–12
• Adult Student: Ages 18+ and enrolled in school
• Open Adult: Ages 18+ and not enrolled in school

Career development professionals are especially encouraged to enter the adult divisions—your creativity and perspective can inspire both colleagues and future generations.

Recognition and National Spotlight

Winners will be celebrated in May 2026, with their work featured on the NCDA website, honored at the NCDA Global Career Development Conference in Minnesota (June 30–July 2, 2026), and published in Career Convergence, reaching more than 20,000 readers each month.

This is more than a contest. It is a national stage where imagination, creativity, and career development intersect.

^{Alena Goveas, 2025 winner}

The Heart of the Celebration

Together, the Amplifying Advocacy event and the Poetry & Art Contest illustrate the power of National Career Development Month. They highlight the dual mission of NCDA: empowering professionals to lead in times of disruption, and engaging students and adults to reflect on the meaning of work through creativity.

This November, NCDA invites you to:

• Recognize National Career Development Week, Nov. 17-21, and National Career Development Day, Nov. 19.
• Join the conversation at Amplifying Advocacy.
• Celebrate creativity in the 60th Anniversary of the Poetry & Art Contest.
• Amplify the message that career development matters—today more than ever. The world of work is always changing. Together, we can honor the past, embrace the present, and dream boldly about the future.

Career development continues to change lives, strengthens communities, and inspires futures—and every November the spotlight is on us! National Career Development Month is our chance to celebrate loudly, advocate boldly, and elevate the field we love. For more details on the NCDA National Career Development Month or the Poetry & Art Contest, visit www.ncda.org or contact Dr. Kimberly Carothers, National Career Development Month Chair-  kimberlycarothers8@gmail.com. Let’s make this celebration unforgettable and keep the energy alive all year long.

^{Anabelle George, 2025 winner}

Dr. Kimberly Carothers is the Chair of the National Career Development Month Committee for the National Career Development Association (NCDA). She is dedicated to advancing career development initiatives and fostering creativity within the field. Dr. Carothers leads the annual Poetry & Art Contest, engaging professionals, students, and adults in reflecting on the meaning of work through imaginative expression. Her commitment to advocacy and education helps empower others to navigate and thrive in an ever-evolving world of work. She can be reached at kimberlycarothers8@gmail.com