Collaborative Partnership Connects Employers to Future Workforce Written By: Eric Vanden Heuvel, Vice President of Talent and Education, Greater Green Bay Chamber
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s the labor shortage continues to squeeze area employers, everyone is looking for solutions to recruit and retain the people they need to meet organizational goals. While the tendency is to look for short-term solutions, it is prudent to have a strategy to cultivate future talent, which can start as early as middle and high school. A new partnership between the Greater Green Bay Chamber, CESA 7 and the Ahnapee Youth Apprenticeship Consortium is creating a regional solution to connect employers with thousands of students who want to work as a part of their high school experience. The Northeastern Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship consortium (NEWYA) combines the strengths of three organizations to create a streamlined process for students to connect with employers and gain valuable workforce experience as a youth apprentice. “A school district’s mission is its promise to students, and districts have an opportunity to work in tandem with business and community partners to put the truth in advertising that “all means all” as they take Youth Apprenticeship implementation to the next level,” says Colleen Timm, Learning Services Director for CESA 7. “NEWYA will ensure a clear pathway for measurable gains in student achievement, a diploma by design for all students, and a strengthened community. With the current opportunities available within the workforce, the time is now for all of us to come together to ensure that the students of today become tomorrow’s innovative leaders.” 22 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2022
who is excited to gain hands-on learning The Youth Apprenticeship program, fundin an industry that they are interested in ed by a state grant from the Department exploring. In addition, the student is required of Workforce Development and private to participate in related coursework, either investments, has transformed the Luxemat their high school or technical college. burg-Casco school district and the Ahnapee consortium in three The Greater Green Bay short years. Under the Chamber is excited to leadership of Mike We are committed collaborate with these Snowberry and Jen to solving the talent great organizations to Johnson, the program crisis that is prevalent provide another talent saw 600% growth across our community, solution to their memin its work-based state, and country. ber businesses. learning opportunities for students, aided “We are committed to by more than 500 -Eric Vanden Heuvel, solving the talent crisis business partnerships. Greater Green Bay that is prevalent across Chamber our community, state, “The Youth Apprenand country,” added Eric ticeship Program Vanden Heuvel, Vice is a game changer President of Talent and Education with the for high school students, as the experience Chamber. “Helping businesses connect with creates maturity and develops a sense of students through the youth apprenticeship purpose for their future,” Snowberry said. program is a win-win solution, as many YA students transition to full time employees. To participate as a YA employer, businesses This is a critical strategy to retain talented need to offer paid work experience for a high students produced by our local schools.” school junior or senior and provide a mentor to the student while they are on the job. The benefits include a young, eager learner
