In this episode of The Next Workforce, Phoenix Jackson interviews Paul Hamilton, legendary art collector, state representative, and educator, about his collection of over 1,200 African art pieces housed in Denver.

The conversation explores art as work. Not just creative expression, but preservation, curation, education, and cultural stewardship. Hamilton shares how his journey into collecting was transformative, how indigenous knowledge systems like those of the Dogon people challenge Western narratives, and why preserving African art is critical for future generations.

This episode reframes art as purpose driven labor and positions artists, collectors, and cultural stewards as essential contributors to the future workforce.

Art is not extra. It is infrastructure for identity.

In this episode of The Next Workforce, Phoenix Jackson sits down with Denise Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Services, a second generation, Black women owned construction management firm with a now 50 year legacy in Colorado.

The conversation explores how Burgess Services became the first minority women owned firm in the state to secure a forty million dollar state level contract and how that milestone expanded opportunity for people of color and women owned businesses across the region.

This episode also examines workforce development, mentorship, and housing as critical infrastructure. From luxury affordable housing projects in Montbello to community centered development that prevents displacement, this conversation shows how ownership, access, and community investment shape long term workforce outcomes.

This is not theory. It is the future of work in action.

Welcome to The Next Workforce, a podcast exploring where the future of work meets leadership, climate, and purpose.

In this introductory episode, Phoenix Jackson shares why this platform exists and why this moment matters. As workforce systems strain under generational shifts, climate realities, and outdated leadership models, the way we think about work is being forced to change.

This episode lays the foundation for the conversations ahead. From workforce development and climate driven job creation to leadership frameworks like the FLAME protocol, The Next Workforce examines how people and organizations can prepare for what comes next.

This is not a podcast about trends or productivity hacks. It is a space for honest dialogue about responsibility, stewardship, and the human systems behind labor.

If you are a leader, an emerging professional, a nonprofit, an NGO, or someone navigating work in a changing world, this series is for you.

Welcome to The Next Workforce.