Bridging Education and Employment in Southeastern Ohio
Dan Leffingwell from Appalachian Stem Coalition and Kasey Harris from The Ohio Academy of Science joined our own Kristi Leonard-Webber in discussing STEM & STEAM career exploration at the 2023 Summit.
The 2024 Community & Career Connected Learning Summit is set to take place on Friday, September 20th at Washington State College of Ohio, bringing together businesses, educators, students, and community leaders in Southeastern Ohio. This dynamic event, put on by Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) and sponsored by Syensqo and the Ohio Natural Energy Institute, is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment by aligning educational initiatives with economic development strategies.
Event highlights include business-focused sessions on addressing liability concerns with minors and practical strategies to engage with the future workforce effectively; a Community & Career Connected Learning Showcase that will provide insights, tips, and toolkits from across the region to connect students with career pathways and community resources; sessions on a variety of topics including career exploration events and programs, problem-based learning with businesses, Business Advisory Councils, Makerspaces, and more.
This is the fifth year that this region-wide summit has been offered. Participants from last year shared that “through networking at the Summit, we made more meaningful connections in two hours than we had in the previous year” and, “we were amazed to have an opportunity to connect with so many people doing amazing work that our team can support”.
For more information, including registration, visit bb2careers.org/summit or email info@bb2careers.org.
Join us at the 2024 Community Career & Connected Learning Summit and be part of the movement to create thriving communities and a future-ready workforce in Southeastern Ohio and beyond.
Why Should Businesses, Educators, and Community Leaders Attend?
Student & Workforce Development: Connect with the future workforce and ensure that students develop the skills and competencies required by today’s industries. By participating, participants can influence educational programs to better align with market needs.
Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with educators, students, businesses and community organizations during multiple networking breaks and the Pre-Summit Social. These connections can lead to valuable school-business partnerships and community collaborations.
Exposure to Innovative Ideas: Sessions on impactful career exploration events, problem-based learning, and effective business advisory councils for schools will introduce participants to new strategies for enhancing connections and community engagement.
Support and Resources: Access toolkits and resources provided during the Community & Career Connected Learning Showcase to help launch and sustain career-focused initiatives like internships, job shadowing, and speaker series.
Community Impact: Play a crucial role in shaping the local economy and educational landscape. Support initiatives like the OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship and makerspaces, contributing to a culture of learning and innovation that benefits the entire region.