There is a widening gap between where students are and where the workforce needs them to be. Educators and practitioners are uniquely positioned to close it. This keynote makes the case that AI literacy an urgent and achievable opportunity for institutions willing to lead. Drawing on federal policy, workforce data, and the real-world examples, this talk charts a clear and actionable path for how higher education and K-12 institutions can step up, build the bridge, and send the next generation of AI-ready graduates into a workforce that is desperately waiting for them.