After years of serving job seekers, employers, communities, and workforce systems, retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter. It doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to the profession you’ve dedicated your career to.

Effective July 1, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) is proud to introduce the Legacy Membership, a new membership option created specifically for professionals who are fully retired from full-time employment in workforce development but want to remain engaged with the field and the colleagues who have been part of their journey.

The Legacy Membership recognizes that retirement doesn’t diminish the value of your experience. Your knowledge, perspective, and leadership continue to strengthen the workforce development community. This new membership provides meaningful opportunities to stay informed, connected, and involved while respecting the unique needs of retirees.

For a one-time fee of just $50, Legacy Members receive a variety of engagement opportunities, including:

  • Quarterly virtual Legacy Leader Engagement Sessions featuring networking, discussion, and updates from across the workforce development field.
  • An exclusive invitation to the NAWDP Chair’s Reception during the Annual Conference.
  • Opportunities to serve as a mentor or volunteer in advisory roles that benefit the next generation of workforce professionals.
  • Eligibility to maintain your Certified Workforce Development Professional® (CWDP) credential through recertification.
  • Invitations to select public webinars and general-interest learning sessions.
  • Access to a dedicated online retiree member page designed to keep Legacy Members connected.

The Legacy Membership is designed to foster connection and continued engagement rather than provide the full suite of professional member benefits. As a result, Legacy Members do not receive discounted registration rates for professional development events, discounted pricing for job postings or career services through the NAWDP Career Center, access to the full member portal, or voting rights in NAWDP governance and Board of Directors elections.

If you are fully retired from full-time employment in workforce development and want to remain part of the profession you helped shape, the Legacy Membership offers an affordable way to continue building relationships, sharing your expertise, and staying informed about the issues and innovations that matter most.

Your career has made a lasting impact. Now your legacy can continue to inspire and support the workforce development community for years to come.

Ready to join? Visit https://www.nawdp.org/membership/member-types/ to learn more about the Legacy Membership and become part of this new community today.