Posts by bb4b_Pam

Shaler Area School District began working with U can B in 2017 for a series of information technology, job readiness and career awareness classes. This program for middle school students was made possible by a grant from The Education Foundation.   Students met with a U can B instructor every Monday to discuss topics such as technology, career assessment, understanding the job market, careers in IT and more! Additionally, UcanB will attend the STEM OPEN HOUSE for High School students in February 2018. This event will allow teachers and administrators to review existing resources and new programs for Shaler Area students. Andrew Weckman, President and CEO of The Education Foundation, said, “We recognize Building Bridges and the UcanB Career Education program as an innovative provider in the education space. We are proud to work with this organization and be able to advance both of our goals to reach students and provide exceptional career education.” Alexander Nichols, a #UcanB teacher, met with Shaler students and discussed his experience to get to the CEO level. He provided life lessons from his work at General Electric, Rockwell, and his own business Computer Friend and working for the Minority Purchasing Council, an organization whose mission was to provide opportunities for minority business owners. He described attributes that he would look for in a prospective employee including education, honesty, being a hard worker, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Nick went on to discuss the benefits of participating in the student government to gain leadership abilities, participating in school activities like the marching band and athletics. Nick also described his involvement in ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Program). An upcoming event for Shaler Area High School students is the Shaler Area High School S.T.E.A.M. Advisory Board’s 4th Annual Community STEAM Expo on February 22nd, 2018. The event will showcase science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with their application in community business, industries and related fields of study. The expo will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for students and 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. for families. The evening event will coincide with the high school’s winter open house, which will allow students and parents to engage with local STEAM-related companies to see what technologies or opportunities they bring to the community. Information about the Education Foundation and Building Bridges for Business and the UcanB career education program. The Education Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Over the many years and granting over $6,000,000 in scholarships to deserving students, The Education Foundation believes that offering opportunities to learn about education and occupation is vital to students and employers. The focus on both new and traditional occupations is necessary for the future health and growth of our economy as well. In order to contribute to students’ academic and intellectual success, The Education Foundation offers tutoring services for students as well as offering scholarships to deserving students, when funds are available. To inquire about tutoring services, contact admin@educationfdn.org or call (412) 453-6272 for more information. Building Bridges for Business is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in the Northside of Pittsburgh. UcanB has reached over 25,000 students in the past 3 years alone. UcanB has provided thousands of teaching hours, hosted major city-wide events, and helped people find the right resources and jobs, recently via the West End Employment Center, a cooperative project with Representative Dan Deasy. The flagship program, UcanB, is creating connections between students, communities, and employers to transform careers and economies. UcanB’s proven, career education program, with hands-on curriculum, has over 76 weeks of material, available in a wide array of topics, including entrepreneurship, soft skills, career development, IT careers, green careers, website design and SEO, graphic design, government and politics, careers in healthcare, and more. This customizable curriculum is made available to schools, who select which programs their students need most. To reach Building Bridges for Business contact us at info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org or visit our website and leave your comments at www.BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org. Contact for the press release, Linda Handley – cell phone: 412 337...

  Did you know that though most U.S. citizens think we have the most educated workforce in the world, we’re actually lagging way behind? This bothered us immensely. This bothered us so much, actually, we decided that we would help by starting small in Pennsylvania. Our mission statement reiterates this when it says, “Our mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the region by providing educational programming and opportunities for students to connect with vital resources.” Though UcanB does do all these amazing things for our children, the future of America, we can also benefit you! UcanB’s Education Improvement Tax Credit Program has just become available to individuals this past year. As an example of how our program works, lets say you owe $3,000 in PA STATE taxes and your receive tax credits, you would owe $0. If you’re eager to hop on board and donate, all you have to do is complete a one page application. You can also just donate using our “donate” link on the Building Bridges website. For more information on Corporate or Personal tax Credits  – Email us at Info@BuildingBridgesforBuisness.org Link to the DCED. for more information on Corporate and Personal Tax Credits. Business in Pennsylvania Building Bridges for Business is a 501 (c) (3) organization that provides career education to school students in the area of job growth. The Building Bridge’s career education program, U can B, features over 70+ weeks of curriculum adhering to the PA State teaching guidelines. U can B has subject matter experts and teachers who teach in the areas of science, technology, trades, entrepreneurship, television and new media, digital citizenship, workforce readiness and soft skills. U can B is taught in school, afterschool, and in summer programs. A blended learning approach utilizes curriculum, teachers and videos along with hands-on exercises to reach students in a new way. Building Bridges is also EITC approved and a participating United Way organization. Building Bridges is a 501(c) (3) organization that educates and empowers through: • Live and virtual business education • Coffee With Film Series • U can B career education program for 6th -12th grade students • and Building the Bridges across the business and workforce...

UcanB has wrapped up a successful 2016-2017 school year. This year alone, the program incorporated many new schools in addition to the many schools the program has already impacted. The UcanB program differs from most scholastic programs due to the broad range of real-life topics that are taught. The program taught varying topics that the students would otherwise not be exposed to. The topics that the UcanB program brings to these schools vary from technology training all the way to entrepreneurship. The goal is essentially to expose the students to things they might be interested in taking as a career path, or even study in school. The program also recognized that many students don’t end up going onto college, and through the UcanB Career Opportunity Fairs, they have a chance to be offered a full time job on the spot. This year, the program changed the lives and paths of many students who never planned on going to college or doing anything after high school. For example, an 11th grade Propel student said, “The UcanB teacher told me that there are many jobs out there and getting a college degree isn’t the only path. Loving what you do for an occupation is #1. They really helped me.” Due to the positive impact the UcanB program has made in the community thus far, they are planning to add even more topics and assemblies to further the knowledge of the working world to the students. Some of those topics will include ways in which to dress for a job interview or what to wear to a professional workplace. These topics will be taught in a way that is engaging, motivational, and relatable to the students. There might even be a prize for exceptional students. The UcanB program has had an exceptional school year and now looks forward to starting their summer...

Today’s episode of Coffee With focuses on careers, specifically career building and training. Joining our discussion is Mrs. Valerie Njie, the Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Bidwell Training Center (BTC). Bidwell Training Center is a non-profit career training school that has been changing people’s lives since 1968. At Bidwell, Mrs. Njie is part of an amazing organization that equips students with superb skills that can lead them to meaningful employment and empower them to become more confident, productive, and professional. Bidwell Training Center has almost 50 years of experience providing top-of-the-line career training and consistently attracts national attention for their innovative training programs. Beyond that, Bidwell Training Center is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and is a member of over 10 national and regional professional organizations. The majors offered at BTC provide learners with the hands-on skillsets they need to be prepared and competitive in the marketplace. Mrs. Njie has committed decades towards serving the Pittsburgh community and enriching the lives of others. In 2014, she was elected to serve as School Commissioner by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Mrs. Njie has been one of the ACCSC’s most active volunteers, and was selected as Volunteer of the Year in 2009. Beyond that, she has been honored with the 2009 Duquesne Light African American Leadership Award for Education as well as a 2006 Women of Influence designation from the New Pittsburgh Courier. Mrs. Njie’s outstanding dedication to the Pittsburgh community was most recently recognized in 2015 when she received the University of Pittsburgh’s Volunteer Excellence Award. The award annually recognizes Pitt alumni who have enriched the lives of others through extraordinary efforts in the...

Much attention has been paid to the national graduation and dropout rates. However, those discussions ignore another population of students: those who graduate from high school, but are not prepared to succeed in postsecondary education or the workforce. According to a recent study by the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute (EPI), nationally, the unemployment rate for those who recently earned a high school diploma or equivalent degree (ages 17-20) and are not enrolled in additional schooling is 18 percent. So, how can we work to increase the number of students that are pursuing a college degree? One solution is college-bound culture. Schools that focus on fostering this in their classrooms help build the expectation of postsecondary education for all students. Through extensive research, the Pathways to College Network has established six principles to guide the actions of educators for creating an environment that pushes students to pursue a college education. These principles are: Expect that all underserved students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in college Provide a range of high-quality, college-preparatory tools for students and families Embrace social, cultural, and varied learning styles when developing the environment and activities at the school Involve leaders at all levels in establishing policies, programs, and practices Maintain sufficient financial and human resources for this mission Assess policy, programs, and practices regularly to determine their effectiveness These goals may seem idealistic, but with the right strategies, it possible for educators and school administrators at all schools to make them a reality. Focusing on how schools can help students succeed beyond high school is vital for creating a culture that promotes the value of a college education. And as you can imagine, the key ingredient for creating this culture is dedicated teachers and counselors. Here are some ways to get started: Counseling Office A school’s counseling office is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to encouraging students to think beyond high school and determine what it is they want to do in their career. Here are few ways guidance counselors can help: Hold conferences with students frequently, especially during 10th and 11th grade, to monitor future plans Become friendly with local admissions officers; invite them to come to your school Invite local college graduates to speak about their experiences Hold a Career Day or College Fair Send a newsletter to parents with useful college information Hold workshops for students on topics such as: writing essays, getting recommendations, preparing for tests, applying for financial aid College Decor Keep college top-of-mind for students by decorating hallways and classrooms with pennants, posters, and slogans that broadcast the ultimate goal of getting into college. Consider announcing upcoming college entrance exams and test-preparation classes with flyers in bathrooms, hallways, and the cafeteria. Career Development Programs For many children, half of the battle is figuring out what they want to do after they graduate. This happens when students are unable to connect what they’re learning in the classroom to a career. Consider starting an internship program or establishing after-school programs or activities that help students understand all of their options. This often falls on guidance counselors to organize. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Programs like U can B support career development through curriculum components that allow students to see what life is like after high school and college. These programs help students become aware of all the opportunities that exist and encourage them to pursue them. Raising academic standards alone is not enough to ensure that all students, especially low-income and minority students, will graduate from high school and pursue — let alone succeed in — postsecondary education. Supports must be in place to help schools ensure that all students achieve this goal. College-bound culture inspires the best in every student and helps them identify and achieve their goals. Schools that take the steps to foster this culture put the success of their students at the forefront of their...