Did You Know...

14%
of the Portland area youth 16-21 are not employed and not enrolled in School

43%
of vacancies require education beyond high school/GED

#1
indicator of future earnings is work experience

Adam (name has been changed for confidentiality purposes) is a kid who struggled in school, got involved with the wrong crowd, had family income issues, etc....His overall GPA for the first three years of high school was 1.977. Last summer, when the stimulus package offered jobs for low-income youths, we took a chance and recommended Adam to the program.

In September, first thing, he came flying into my office to tell me how great his job was . He showed up, worked hard, made "lots of money." He was able to help his family and gain back some much-needed self-esteem. Last spring, he was a kid who looked down when he talked to me. This year, he's come to college visits, and, though he knows he will have to attend community college first after graduation, he has his eyes set on a four-year-college degree and a career. In his first progress report his course average was 3.5!! I think the jobs program really helped this kid turn his life around, see a brighter future and feel confident about what he has to contribute -- also the benefits of hard work. I can't thank you enough for taking a chance on Adam and finding him a job.
Youth Opportunities > BizConnect

BizConnect


The Oregon Department of Education instituted new graduation requirements to better prepare each student for success in college, work, and citizenship. All public high school students must participate in career related learning experiences (CRLE) such as job shadows and internships in order to earn a high school diploma. BizConnect systematizes the process of connecting students with businesses who provide these experiences.

Problem
  • There is no system in place to coordinate the 116,500 public high school students in the Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area who need CRLEs.
  • Local businesses are inundated with requests from parents, high school staff, students, community organizations and a multitude of School-to-Career entities to provide career exposure opportunities to students.
  • The local economy is projected to grow. Businesses want exposure to the next generation of employees.

Action

BizConnect is a regional pilot program that systematizes school to career efforts in a five county region. A team of BizConnect coordinators recruit businesses to offer CRLEs to high school students. All participating businesses are profiled in a central data system accessible to students and teachers in partnering high schools throughout the region. Common standards are used for student and employer preparation. BizConnect coordinators are the hub of this model. They make sure that businesses are satisfied with their experiences and schools refer students who are prepared for career exposure experiences. BizConnect meets the needs of employers and students. Business have a single point of contact for School to Career activities and business volunteers get the opportunity to connect with the emerging workforce, while students learn about career options and see the relevance of classroom learning to the workplace.

Partners
  • Enterprise for Employment and Education (E3)
  • MTC Works
  • Clackamas Educational Services District
  • Portland Business Alliance
  • Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
  • Region 2 High School Partners:
    • David Douglas High School
    • Aloha High School
    • PPS/Grant High School
    • PPS/BizTech


How to Get Involved
Contact Amy Parkhurst
aparkhurst@worksystems.org
503-478-7340