By Andrea Applegate, Director of Workforce
Michael Dalby, the Chamber's new president and CEO, recently congratulated the representatives on the Chamber's Board of Directors for their participation in developing the next generation workforce: today's high school and college students. There are many opportunities for your business to get involved.
One such opportunity, which is offered through the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation, matches 16- to 24-year-old job seekers to seasonal or short-term employment opportunities. Not only is this a great way to introduce young people to what it means to be in the workplace, it helps uncover for them the variety of companies, industries and occupations in our community, and it gives them something productive to do over the summer. Contact COWIC’s Employment Relations Team Leader, Jo Youngs (614-583-1333 or jayoungs@cowic.org), for more information.
Lonnie Miles, CEO of Miles-McClellan Construction Co., Inc., serves on the advisory board for East High School’s Academy of Engineering, which prepares high school students to pursue college admission in STEM fields. This nationally accredited program is one of the first chosen to participate in the program. They are currently seeking summer internships for their junior students. Contact Monique Jacquet (614-365-6096 or mjacquet3317@columbus.k12.oh.us) for information.
The Columbus Partnership established a successful relationship with OSU’s Fisher College of Business to provide a two-year work experience for an MBA student. Through this internship arrangement, the Partnership leverages the knowledge, skills and fresh perspectives of our region’s abundant student population to successfully continue its economic development strategy. The internship also offers these bright young people the opportunity to network and build their careers in Columbus. Getting started with internships is easy. Register as an employer on www.ColumbusInternships.com to post your positions for free.
For the second year in a row, Nationwide Insurance will host 10 high school interns from Columbus City Schools. This partnership between a corporation and a school system is another great example of how Nationwide grows talent for the future and provides support to students who might otherwise not have an opportunity to participate in a corporate internship program.
OhioHealth offers an Explorer program, through the Simon Kenton Council, Boy Scouts of America, that provides work-site based career discovery opportunities for high-school aged youth. Local community organizations and businesses, like OhioHealth, can initiate an Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the career interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop. To develop an Explorer Post for your business, contact Ken.Ruppel@skcbsa.org or 614-310-1567
Because of their concern for developing their future workforce with proficiency in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Battelle and Sterling Commerce actively participate in the St. Stephens Community House program: STEM L.A., that partners with the Linden-McKinley High School’s STEM Academy. The summer STEM L.A. program matches business professionals with students in four-hour mentoring sessions offered every Friday for six weeks during the summer. Mentors help students work on projects that advance their academics and prepare them for internships.
In addition to a number of Chamber staff, many board member companies participate in Project Mentor, administered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. Project Mentor's mission is to empower Columbus City School students for success through strong mentoring relationships. They are currently recruiting thousands of mentors from our community to start next school year, one for each student who could benefit from having an adult role model in their life. Become a mentor and in just one hour a week you can change a child's life (and probably your own) while transforming our community.
There are so many opportunities for businesses to connect with young people. I encourage you to participate in whatever manner is best for your business. Contact Andrea Applegate (614-225-6900 or andrea_applegate@columbus.org) at the Columbus Chamber for more information about how to get connected to these different programs or to help you determine the most appropriate opportunity for your business.
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