Education & Workforce Working Group

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD SO FAR...

LINDEN COMMUNITY PLAN EDUCATION / WORKFORCE WORKING GROUP

ASPIRATIONS aspirations Public Meetings - Early 2017 •

Increase awareness of existing resources.

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Additional extra-curricular activities.

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Career Development / college prep courses / interview skills / resume prep.

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Early intervention programs for kids at risk.

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Improve communication between teachers and parents / community organizations.

Pop Up Planning Events - Summer 2017 Access to additional educational opportunities would enable me to…

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Cost of fuel (don’t like new bus routes, confusing)

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Increase awareness of existing resources / hold programs accountable.

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Equipment / training for kids’ extracurricular activities (extend hours of operation).

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Internship programs linked to other community initiatives (SmartColumbus).

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Expand vocational opportunities / coordinate with local trade unions.

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Mentoring services & programs for youth.

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Mentoring programs (educational / professional).

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Tutoring for and with parents.

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Increase avenues to higher educational opportunities.

Awareness classes for bullying, social media, sexual abuse, grief counseling.

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Tutoring for kids and parents.

Agriculture education / experiences / nutrition.

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Greater community awareness of bullying, social media, sexual abuse, grief counseling.

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Litter awareness.

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Internship programs linked to other community initiatives (Smart Columbus).

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Child care worker certification.

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Career Development / college prep courses / interview skills / resume preparation (schools and at library).

Program that addresses whole person (explains cycle of poverty, provides selfesteem / personal awareness / life goals) taught from a holistic perspective.

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Greater collaboration between schools and other service organizations.

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Improve communication channels between teachers and other community organizations.

DISCUSSION •

More early intervention programs for children at risk, trauma informed learning model (train teachers, counselors, & community center workers in trauma informed care).

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Increase educational opportunities in Green Technologies (jobs of tomorrow).

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Increase fine arts / visual and performing arts classes.

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Expand vocational training / skills training / workforce development / collaborate with unions.

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More after school programs for youth/ community development programs.

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After school / evening sex education seminars.

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Early intervention programs.

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Poverty impacts on education.

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Connect Linden youth (16 – 24) to Impact Community Action (700 Bryden Road) offers employment prep and jobs (earn stipend too).

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Bring more (any pay) parents and Linden residents to work in the school w/teachers and school staff (build relationships).

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Windsor is far below the academic requirements of the City + State.

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Higher education satellite locations.

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Skills for people, jobs for people in the Community (learning skills).

Meeting #1 -August 8, 2017 - Greater Works Church of God Workforce Development •

Children in Linden need development of soft skills and interviewing skills

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Discussed communication strategies

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Discussed alternative approaches to engagement

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Meet children where they are

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Use a process where children have buy-in to gain ownership over the policy decision to have school uniforms. Involve children in the decision-making process.

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Putting postcards out is not going to get people to come to events.

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Barriers to engagement: transportation many of the children who attend Linden do not live in Linden

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Kids that are interested in engagement, are typically already very busy

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How to bridge the disconnect between the community and the schools

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Everybody agrees that we need to help and support our young people.

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Don’t downplay the importance of technology

Plan Ideas •

How to put the school back at the center of the community

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Should be able to host community events from 7am to 9pm

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Align information about resources available across community organizations and assets

DISCUSSION Continued: Meeting #1 - August 8, 2017 - Greater Works Church of God •

Churches are a place where most Linden residents and students would feel comfortable going for information or programs. Churches have people, space and are present over time.

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DRAFT Workforce is defined as preparation for careers, entrepreneurship, and employment that lead to financial independence and economic security for individuals and households.

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DRAFT Mission Statement - The education and workforce group will identify challenges to educational attainment and workforce participation in the Linden Community, and propose solutions to these persistent issues.

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DRAFT: Mission Statement - The education and workforce group will identify challenges and propose solutions to improve educational and workforce opportunities for careers or entrepreneurship development in the Linden Community.

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Aspirations for Linden

1. Business incubator

2. Student educational service center.

Satellite for higher education in Linden area.

This may include: SCORE

Mission Statement & Definitions •

What is a mission statement?

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“A formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.”

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What is education?

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Education and workforce are together, not separate

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Includes early childhood education

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Life long education, not just formal schooling

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Informal, ongoing, community-focused education

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Intergenerational community education

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DRAFT Education is defined as formal schooling and training, as well as and informal intergenerational experiences, that contribute to a person’s ability to successfully navigate an increasingly complex world.

Providing, per the group discussion, career and entrepreneurship development. This key educational component should reflect the community’s desire to have workforce opportunities, job training with a career path and entrepreneurship education.

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Want all Linden residents to feel they have a voice in decisions related to enhancing educational opportunities and workforce/ entrepreneurship development.

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DRAFT Education is defined as formal schooling and training, as well as and informal intergenerational experiences, that contribute to a person’s ability to successfully navigate career paths or entrepreneurship endeavors.

DISCUSSION Meeting #2 -September 12, 2017 Linden Branch Library

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Resources that support enhanced education opportunities (systems) don’t only have to be within Linden geographically, but must be focused on the needs of Linden.

UPDATED DRAFT Education is defined as formal schooling and training, as well as informal intergenerational experiences that contribute to a person’s ability to successfully navigate career paths and entrepreneurial endeavors in an increasingly complex world.

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Many career paths will require post High School training (additional skill sets), 1) Vocational, 2) Resume / Interview, 3) Job Retention, 4) General Life Skills

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Pre-K efforts must be addressed to better prepare kids for a successful educational experience.

UPDATED DRAFT Workforce is defined as preparation for sustainable careers, entrepreneurship, and employment investment that lead to financial independence and economic security for individuals and households.

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Identification of how future technologies may influence educational efforts and approaches to learning.

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“Big Data” will have an increasingly large impact on the community (society) at large.

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Removal of barriers that inhibit access to educational opportunities or ability to effectively participate in an educational environment. These issues must be addressed either within the Education / Workforce Working Group, or other Working Group, perhaps Health & Safety.

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Group must speak to social / economic / emotional issues that adversely affect education.

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Group must discuss / address community “readiness” to embrace recommendations and strategies of the Working Group.

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Assessment of individuals is a critical component of Employment Readiness.

Definitions: •

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UPDATED DRAFT Mission Statement: The education and workforce group will identify challenges and propose solutions to remove barriers to accessing educational and workforce opportunities for careers and entrepreneurship development in the Linden Community.

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Embrace entrepreneurship as attainable career path.

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View education as vehicle for selfdetermination (be your own boss).

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Residents need to become “producers”, not consumers.

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What does education embrace? 1) systems of education, 2) religious education, 3) creation of spaces within the community that encourage lifelong learning

DISCUSSION Continued: Meeting #2 - September 12, 2017 - Linden Branch Library

Meeting #3 - October 10, 2017 Urban Oasis

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What is the relationship between barriers / gaps or emotional disconnect to education?

Is it a personal choice not to participate in available educational opportunities, or are there too many barriers?

Workforce Development •

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Strategies emerging from the Education / Workforce Working Group must address social barriers that negatively impact education and job readiness.

Establish an “incubator” in the Linden Community like the House of Hope located on the Southside. Focus on developing entrepreneurial skills through job training.

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How can funding be secured that enable the strategies developed to be implemented?

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Are federal dollars available thru “coalition building”? Must apply to receive funding.

Establish employment readiness skills training to teach soft skills such as life skills and employment readiness training. (i.e.)

How to write a resume, how to interview, what to do and not to do on your job, how to get along …sustainability skills for long term employment.

Weinland Park Experience: develop strategies that shape the future of the community. Strategies become a blueprint for focused investments.

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There was discussion regarding having meetings more frequently than once / month. It appeared that the majority were not in favor of additional meetings.

Encourage and incorporate Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACE’s assessment for Linden community. This assesses the impact of trauma and helps to alleviate the negative behaviors. Will help individual with self-improvement and ultimately teach individual positive behaviors that facilitate long term employment and sustainability.

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Conduct vocational aptitude tests and assessments. Help individuals to identify their strengths, capabilities

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Inventory the available jobs and employment opportunities and try and match job seekers with vacancies.

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Assess the transportation options for getting job seekers to the job sites. Often jobs are located far from where the resident lives and transportation is not available to get the job seeker to job site location due to distance and or hours of operation. Develop a transportation network that will provide this option where none exists.

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The group was in favor of splitting into smaller “focus groups” to address specific ideas that match their personal interest / expertise. These smaller groups would then present their ideas / findings to the overall group for discussion.

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At some point in the future, the Working Group will be divided into 2 separate groups, one focused on Education, the other focused on Workforce. Details of how the groups interact will discussed at the next meeting.

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Future meetings will be temporarily extended to two (2) hours in length.

DISCUSSION •

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Train technology to those who need to learn to access today’s jobs. Set up an intergenerational program whereby youth teach more mature how to use the computer and industry based software programs.

Fostering in the Community.

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Incorporate employment readiness and life skills training in public schools. Begin at the middle school and possible elementary levels.

Education •

Refocus the community “want” to “desire”.

Community must be motivated to increase this in all individuals.

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Complete culture of learning in community through parental involvement during all stages of education. Develop educational outreach component that is structured similarly to Celebrate Linden App. Consider “rewards” program to incentivize participation.

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Ambassador / Liaison Program – each school (pre-school through High School) to have ambassador. Kids would meet (outside of regular school hours) at location to engage in activities that supplement the traditional educational experience. This program will find out what kids want and develop ageappropriate activities to enhance their learning experiences and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

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Program should utilize Peer Mentors that reflect the community to illustrate “realworld” pathways to various career paths. This could be integrated into community Business Hub w/specific groups that rotate in / out of space. Effort should be coordinated with

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Key Characteristics of Ambassador / Liaison Program •

Supplements existing educational experience (coordinate with existing programs / organizations)

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Assessment of student need (data collection)

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Motivational (must inspire students to push existing perceived boundaries)

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Flexibility (must always be current)

School system must accept and fully embrace the culture of technology as an integral part of life. Develop ways to integrate the use of smart phones / pads into framework of current “in-class” activities.

NOTES

614.221.5001

Linden@theneighborhood designcenter.org

ourlinden.com