Schools That Can

Friday read ?? : A cool collaboration between Jefferson State Community College and middle schools in Alabama is using virtual reality to help expose students to fields like construction or transportation. "We always ask ‘What it is you want to be when you’re younger,’ but we don’t always include the breadth of the many different careers that are out there for students." https://lnkd.in/gECWKAna

Recently, students working with Schools That Can New York put professional communication skills into practice! ?? After covering topics like informal vs. formal language, tone, and body language, and how to present their best selves in professional settings, students had the opportunity to meet professionals in a variety of fields at a networking mixer. These hands-on chances to build real-world skills and connections are such meaningful experiences for students. ?? Shout out to STC's own Greisy Genao for making these events happen, and huge thanks to the incredible volunteers (many pictured below) who shared their time, skill, and knowledge with students, including: Ebony Cawthorne (Filmmaker and founder of arts education non-profit D/SRUPT Media) Jayla James (Graduate Assistant coach with Manhattan College Women’s Basketball Team) Felix Garcia (Chief of Staff for District 77 NYS Assemblymember Landon Dais) Chrisel Ahime, Community Organizer Josaimy Pichardo, Model and Actress Karina Diaz, Cosmetologist with Her the Beauty Bar Alyson Cadena, Digital Media Manager at iHeartRadio Noah Joseph (Fashion Designer) Cody Perez (Realtor)

This is an insightful piece by Surya Pulukuri, a student at Harvard Medical School, in The Hechinger Report about dismantling systemic barriers that stop students from underrepresented groups from entering medicine. Among solutions posed are partnerships that offer hands-on experiences, including job shadowing, healthcare-focused career fairs, and professionals serving as mentors and guest speakers. ?? "To mitigate these disparities, we must look beyond our hospitals and medical schools and into the places where young minds are shaped: our K-12 classrooms. Early exposure to health care careers can ignite curiosity and show students that they belong in places where they have historically been excluded." https://lnkd.in/gw2Chfv9

A recent report by YouScience highlighted gaps between student potential and career awareness, noting that to address workforce shortages, employers need to focus on building awareness of career opportunities in K-12 students. This is a core part of Schools That Can's programming: We believe early exposure to different career paths helps young people imagine themselves in the world of work and find meaningful outlets for their skills. Even better? In our programming, students meet professionals from a variety of career paths in mock interviews, resume reviews, and networking events, so they have the opportunity to build real-world connections. ?? Give the full report a read: https://lnkd.in/g2FNk3S5

Recently, Schools That Can students at Bronx Theatre High School and South Bronx Community Charter High School practiced delivery of their elevator pitches with each other to prepare for a volunteer networking mixer where their professional communication skills were put to the test. In this unit of our #careerreadiness curriculum, students covered topics such as informal vs. formal language, tone, and body language to help them present their best selves in professional settings. ?? (Photos blurred to protect student privacy.)

Take a look at STC's 2023-2024 annual report! ?? During school year 2023-2024, we further refined our curriculum, established new partnerships, engaged new volunteers, and reached even more students.?In partnership with South Bronx Community Charter High School, Schools That Can was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in July 2024 as a finalist-winner of the prestigious Career Z Challenge. Click below to explore the highlights of last school year, including programming, the RFK Education Awards, and more, and learn what we're looking forward to throughout 2025: https://lnkd.in/g5YtTGGy

For Visions of Tomorrow, a student voice project created by Pittsburgh high school student Anisten, students reflected on their hopes, goals, worries, and dreams for their futures. ?? Here, Izabella, a student at Bronx Theatre High School, shared these inspiring words about starting a business someday. Read more from students here: https://lnkd.in/gX9Gk7HE

Social-emotional skills are in high demand with employers. ?? This piece from Education Week highlights why senior executives at some of the nation's top companies are looking for social and emotional skills when hiring, including how to conduct yourself professionally, communicating, and working with different kinds of people. These soft skills are woven throughout STC's #careerreadiness curriculum. ?? We've seen firsthand how collaboration, communication, curiosity, and interpersonal skills help young people develop confidence, and how learning these skills sets them up for success in school, work, and beyond. "Senior executives from some of the nation’s biggest industries say schools can play a major role in supplying the future workforce not only with the technical skills that help them stand out in a crowded field of job candidates, but also with the?social and emotional skills?they’ll need to conduct themselves responsibly once they’ve entered the workplace." https://lnkd.in/gw6inAAP

Our Monday read ?? : This opinion piece offers a look at mentoring high school students as they explore careers in the construction industry. It highlights how mentorship can both dispel stereotypes of a field while addressing critical pipeline issues through engaging future young professionals, who can help imagine what the future of work looks like:"Mentorship bridges this gap by connecting young minds to the possibilities in construction — opportunities to innovate, lead and literally build the future." #mondayreads #mentorship #educationtoemployment #careerreadiness ?

Need some inspiration this week? Check out this project created by Anisten, a high school student from Pittsburgh, which interviews other young people about how they feel about their futures. ?? Read on for more about their goals, their concerns, their plans, and their dreams.