Intermediaries--also referred to as bridge builders, boundary spanners, conveners, and other names--fill the critical role of connecting all the parties in the system to empower people with the skills required in the labor force. Those parties generally include employers, educators, workers, and prospective workers. Within these categories may fall many other interests, such as unions, philanthropic and faith-based organizations, advocates for low-income people and racial and ethnic minorities, civic groups, chambers of commerce, political leaders, schools that place students in apprenticeships, and public agencies that help people find jobs.