Professional & Continuing Education
360 Forward
Work & Wealth Academy
Your Next Chapter Starts Here.
Your financial goals and professional ambitions deserve practical support. Whether you want to make your paycheck go further, build savings, develop new workplace skills, or prepare for career advancement, the 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy provides accessible, real-world education to help you move forward with confidence.
Registration is completed through the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce's GrowthZone registration system. Each course requires individual registration.
2 Hours per Course
Three Ways to Move Forward
Complete one qualifying course in each pathway to earn your certificate.
Financial Literacy
Improve cash flow, understand credit, manage debt, build savings, and strengthen financial confidence.
Digital Workplace Skills
Develop skills in digital technology, artificial intelligence, spreadsheets, and practical workplace tools.
Workforce Development
Strengthen communication, leadership, professional readiness, and essential workplace competencies.
Education That Moves You Forward
What You'll Learn
Whether you're working to make your income go further, strengthen your financial stability, develop new professional skills, or advance your career, the 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy provides practical education to help you take your next step with confidence.
Improve Your Cash Flow & Financial Confidence
Learn practical ways to manage income and expenses, create a realistic budget, reduce debt, strengthen credit, and develop savings habits. Explore strategies to improve personal cash flow and make informed financial decisions.
Digital & Emerging Skills
Explore artificial intelligence, digital tools, and emerging technologies that support workplace productivity, adaptability, and career advancement.
Professional Readiness
Strengthen communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that support success in today's workforce.
Career Growth & Adaptability
Build transferable skills to navigate employment opportunities, workplace transitions, and changing professional expectations.
Practical Skills for Everyday Life
Apply financial and professional strategies to real-world situations, from managing household finances to making decisions about future career and financial goals.
Designed for Lifelong Learners
Who This Program Serves
Your Pathway to Completion
Three Courses. One Certificate.
Earn a Certificate of Completion issued by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce by successfully completing one qualifying course from each of the Academy's three learning pathways.
Financial Literacy
Complete one course covering money management, financial planning, credit, savings, or related topics.
Digital Workplace Skills
Complete one course focusing on emerging technology, digital tools, or other practical professional skills.
Workforce Development
Complete one course covering workplace communication, career readiness, leadership, or essential soft skills.
Courses may be completed in any order. Each course requires individual registration. See the FAQ for information about noncredit education and continuing education units.
Browse the Course Catalog →Your Goals. Your Path.
Where Would You Like to Start?
Everyone's path forward looks different. Whether your goal is to improve your financial stability, develop new workplace skills, or pursue career advancement, 360 Forward provides practical learning opportunities to help you make meaningful progress.
Improve My Finances
Make your income go further, manage expenses, strengthen credit, reduce debt, and develop healthier financial habits that support long-term stability.
Explore Financial LiteracyBuild New Skills
Learn practical digital tools, artificial intelligence, spreadsheets, and workplace technologies that strengthen productivity and professional confidence.
Explore Digital SkillsGrow My Career
Strengthen communication, leadership, teamwork, workplace readiness, and transferable skills that support professional growth and new opportunities.
Explore Workforce CoursesPractical Education for Real Life
Skills That Move You Forward
The Academy is designed to connect what you learn with what you do. Course offerings focus on practical knowledge you can apply to your finances, workplace responsibilities, career goals, and everyday decision-making.
Build Financial Confidence
Learn strategies for improving household cash flow, budgeting, managing debt, understanding credit, and building savings.
Strengthen Digital Skills
Gain familiarity with technology, digital tools, and artificial intelligence applications used in modern workplaces.
Improve Professional Readiness
Develop communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills that help you succeed in professional environments.
Prepare for New Opportunities
Strengthen transferable skills and confidence to navigate workplace changes and pursue professional advancement.
Apply What You Learn
Take away practical resources and strategies designed to support decisions in your personal and professional life.
Invest in Lifelong Learning
Continue developing knowledge and skills through flexible learning opportunities that support ongoing personal growth.
Your Pathway to Completion
Three Courses. One Certificate.
The 360 Forward Certificate of Completion Program allows you to choose qualifying courses based on your interests and schedule. To earn your certificate, successfully complete one course from each of the three learning pathways.
Financial Literacy
Complete one qualifying course in personal money management or financial well-being.
Digital Workplace Skills
Complete one qualifying course focused on upskilling, digital tools, or workplace technology.
Workforce Development
Complete one qualifying course in soft skills, workplace readiness, or professional growth.
Earn Your Certificate of Completion
Successfully complete all three required pathways to receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.
Courses may be completed in any order. Individual course registration is managed through GrowthZone. Courses are noncredit and do not award college credit or CEUs.
360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy
Course Syllabus
Explore the Academy's three learning pathways, designed to strengthen financial knowledge, develop digital workplace skills, and build essential professional competencies.
3 Learning Pathways | Session Lengths Vary | 6-Month Program | Free Enrollment
Take One Course or Take Them All — The Choice Is Yours. Participants are welcome to enroll in as many courses as they wish across any of the three learning pathways. Whether you're interested in a single topic or want to explore the entire curriculum, you can build a learning experience that supports your personal and professional goals.
Money Management & Financial Well-Being
Individual Courses | Session Lengths Vary
Strengthen your ability to manage personal finances, improve cash flow, reduce debt, build savings, and make informed financial decisions. Participants may select from multiple courses addressing practical financial challenges and long-term goals.
Pathway Overview
Digital Workplace Skills
Individual Courses | 2 Hours Each
Develop practical technical skills for today's evolving workplace. Learn to use digital tools, artificial intelligence, spreadsheets, and organizational systems to improve productivity, confidence, and professional effectiveness.
Pathway Overview
Soft Skills & Workplace Readiness
Individual Courses | 60–90 Minutes
Build essential professional skills that support workplace success, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and career advancement. These courses focus on transferable competencies employers value across industries.
Pathway Overview
360 Forward | Academic Faculty
Meet Your Instructors
Learn from experienced business leaders, educators, and industry professionals who bring practical knowledge and real-world experience to the classroom. Our instructors support participants in strengthening financial knowledge, workplace skills, and professional confidence.
Instructors & Subject Matter Experts
Meet the professionals supporting the 360 Forward learning experience.
Chief Program Architect
Ernisha Hall
MBA, MSW
President & CEO
Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce
Business leader, educator, and entrepreneur with experience in business development, entrepreneurship education, organizational leadership, and economic opportunity. Ernisha also serves as an adjunct professor and brings practical insight into professional growth and business strategy.
Academy Program Manager
Tracey Hall
MBA & Organizational Leadership Certification, Harvard University
360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy
Tracey Hall brings a graduate-level business education to the Academy's learning environment, supporting practical instruction designed to strengthen professional knowledge, workplace competencies, and individual development.
Workforce Development Instructor
Shawn Gregoire
Capstone Workforce
Shawn Gregoire brings experience in workforce technology, artificial intelligence, and the development of practical tools that help individuals prepare for employment opportunities. His instructional focus includes strengthening interview skills, building professional confidence, and applying technology to career preparation and readiness.
Digital Workplace Skills Instructor
Instructor To Be Announced
Digital Workplace Skills Learning Pathway
Additional instructional professionals will be introduced as training assignments and course schedules are finalized.
Workforce Development Instructor
Instructor To Be Announced
Workforce Development Learning Pathway
Additional facilitators will support training in essential workplace competencies, career preparation, professional effectiveness, and communication.
Financial Literacy Instructor
Instructor To Be Announced
Chase Financial Education
Financial education facilitators will support courses on practical personal finance, financial decision-making, and money management fundamentals.
360 Forward | Academy Partners
Our Partners & Supporters
The 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy is an initiative of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, made possible in part through the support of the VABCC Foundation and our valued funding and educational partners. Together, we are removing financial barriers to learning by providing free access to financial literacy, digital workplace skills, and workforce development courses that help individuals and families build stronger financial and professional futures.
Our funding and training partners help provide the resources, expertise, and educational opportunities that make this program accessible to participants throughout Virginia.
Our Funding Partners
Recognizing organizations whose financial investments support the Academy's mission and expand access to educational opportunities.
Academy Funding Partner
Alfred Street Baptist Church
The Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce recognizes Alfred Street Baptist Church for supporting the 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy. Through its investment, the Academy expands opportunities for individuals to strengthen financial knowledge, improve economic stability, develop workforce skills, and pursue personal and professional advancement.
Future Funding Partner
Additional Supporters
Future funding partners will be recognized here as additional organizations join in supporting the Academy.
Our Training & Educational Partners
Organizations contributing subject matter expertise, curriculum, instructional support, and specialized learning opportunities to the Academy.
Financial Literacy Training Partner
Chase
Financial literacy education covering practical money management, credit, savings, personal cash flow, and informed financial decision-making.
Additional Training Partner
Partner To Be Announced
Additional training organizations will be recognized as course partnerships are confirmed.
Additional Training Partner
Partner To Be Announced
Future educational partners will support specialized training in digital workplace skills, workforce development, and professional learning.
360 Forward | Student Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy, including registration, course participation, learning pathways, and Certificate of Completion requirements.
About the Academy
What is the 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy?
The 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy is a professional and continuing education initiative of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce. It offers noncredit courses in financial literacy, digital workplace skills, and workforce development.
The Academy is designed to help participants strengthen financial well-being, develop practical skills, and pursue personal and professional goals.
Who can participate in the Academy?
The Academy is designed for individuals seeking to improve their financial knowledge, manage personal cash flow, develop workplace skills, or prepare for career advancement.
Career seekers, working professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals interested in lifelong learning can benefit from the Academy's course offerings.
How much does the Academy cost?
The 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy is currently offered at no cost to participants ($0). Registration is required for each course.
When does the Academy begin and how long does it last?
The Academy's program period begins November 1, 2026, and runs for approximately six months. Individual course dates are listed in the Academic Calendar.
Each course is approximately two hours long. Participants may select qualifying courses that fit their schedules.
Course Registration & Participation
How do I register for courses?
Visit the Course Syllabus or Academic Calendar to review available courses.
Select the course you wish to attend and click its registration button. You will be directed to complete your enrollment.
Each course has its own registration, and enrollment is subject to availability.
Do I need to register for all three pathways at once?
No. Participants register for courses individually and may select available classes that align with their goals and schedules.
To earn the Certificate of Completion, you must successfully complete one qualifying course from each of the three learning pathways.
Can I take just one course without pursuing the certificate?
Yes. Participants may attend individual courses for personal enrichment, financial education, or professional development without completing the full certificate pathway.
Do I need to complete the courses in a specific order?
No. The three learning pathways may be completed in any order. Choose the qualifying courses that best align with your interests and availability.
Learning Pathways
What are the three learning pathways?
The Academy offers three pathways:
- Financial Literacy: Money management, cash flow, budgeting, credit, savings, debt, and financial decision-making.
- UpSkilling: Digital workplace skills, emerging technology, artificial intelligence, and productivity tools.
- Workforce Development: Communication, leadership, teamwork, professionalism, and career readiness.
Can the financial literacy courses help me improve my cash flow?
Yes. Financial literacy courses are designed to teach practical strategies for understanding income and expenses, creating budgets, managing debt, building savings, and improving personal financial decision-making.
Participants can apply these tools to better manage their available cash flow and work toward improved financial stability. Individual financial outcomes will vary.
Certificate of Completion
How do I earn my Certificate of Completion?
To earn a Certificate of Completion issued by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, participants must successfully complete at least one qualifying course in each of the following pathways:
- One Financial Literacy course
- One UpSkilling course
- One Workforce Development course
Three courses. Three pathways. One Certificate of Completion.
Will I earn continuing education credits or a certificate?
The 360 Forward Work & Wealth Academy offers noncredit professional development and continuing education courses.
Participants who successfully complete at least one qualifying course in each of the three learning pathways — Financial Literacy, UpSkilling, and Workforce Development — will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.
Courses do not award college credit or professional continuing education units (CEUs).
Is the Certificate of Completion a professional certification?
No. The Academy awards a Certificate of Completion recognizing successful participation in the required learning pathways.
It is not a professional license, academic degree, or independently accredited professional certification.