Non Profit Program Updates

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Year in Review – Report for all schools and Workforce Initiatives – See Other updates for 2018/2019 on Social Media

WD Year in Review 2017 & 18

Opportunity Fair -Northside (Clayton)

Clayton Academy High School
Scott Albert of #UcanB led an 8-week Job Readiness class at Clayton Academy High School. All of the high school students participated. Topics included Job Search, Networking, Career Research, Resume Writing and Career Fair Preparation. This was the third year for the #UcanB Job Readiness class at Clayton High. Students participated as a means of preparation for the 3rd Annual #UcanB Career Opportunity Fair at Clayton High School.

The Career Opportunity Fair took place at Clayton High School. Participating organizations included Local 5 Electricians Union, The City of Pittsburgh Department of Personnel, Bidwell Training Center, Brightwood Career Institute, US Probation & Pretrial Services, New Century Careers, Western Pa Carpenters Union, Career Training Academy, Sheet Metal Workers Local #12, Rosedale Technical College, Laborers’ International Union and Propel Schools. All students in grades 6-12 participated. A cookout and celebration followed! Clayton students, families and teachers celebrated with #UcanB staff, employers and community partners.

All Clayton students 14 and older also had the opportunity to meet with Partner4Work’s Learn ‘n’ Earn staff. Several students applied to and were accepted into the Learn ‘n’ Earn Summer Employment Program.

This was #UcanB’s third year at Clayton Academy High School.

Clayton Academy Middle School
#UcanB returned to Clayton Academy Middle School for a third year as well. The 7th and 8th grade students at Clayton Academy were treated to a wide variety of guest speakers throughout the school year. Lee Davis of Lee Davis & Associates visited the kids to talk about Careers in Sports & Entertainment. Other speakers included Julius Boatwright of Steel Smiling and Scott Albert of #UcanB.

Job Fair

Property Tax

Job Fair

Rep. Dan Deasy and in partnership with Building Bridges for Business and U.S. Probation & Pre Trial Services, we will be hosting a Job Fair for any interested job seekers.  The Job Fair is being held in the Social Hall at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, located at 1810 Belasco Avenue in Beechview from 4 – 7 p.m.

The Job Fair will feature local companies looking to fill positions now.  There will also be representatives in attendance to talk about apprenticeships and other technical training programs to help individuals gain information on acquiring new skills to become gainfully employed.

Many job seekers face barriers to employment like issues related to a past criminal record, a suspended driver’s license, lack of high school diploma or necessary job skills. Therefore, the Job Fair will include three breakout sessions that address these barriers.  From 4:30-5 p.m., attendees can join a breakout session to learn more about the driver’s license restoration process.  From 5:30-6 p.m., a session on pardons and record expungement will take place.  Anyone wishing to learn more about improving job skills and short-term training programs can attend the session from 6:30-7 p.m.

If you are looking for work or have difficulty because of any of the barriers listed above please consider attending this Job Fair.  If you have family or friends who may be interested, please share this information with them.

 

The Verizon Foundation Supports – Building Bridges

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Current Press Releases 

The Verizon Foundation Supports #UcanB.

 

Pittsburgh Clayton Academy 6-12of the Pittsburgh Public Schools has invited #UcanB back for a third consecutive year of partnership. Clayton’s 7th and 8th graders will participate in a monthly guest speaker series designed to introduce students to various career paths. All of Pittsburgh Clayton’s secondary students will receive an 8-session Job Readiness Class in preparation for the school’s Third Annual Career Fair.

This program is supported by the Verizon Foundation. William Carnahan, Vice President External Affairs at Verizon, said “we recognize Building Bridges and the UcanB Career Education program as a leader in the community and we are proud to continue in helping to achieve its mission.”

The #UcanB program began at Pittsburgh Clayton with students in grades 6-8. Scott Albert, VP of Education at Building Bridges for Business, led several group discussions on Career Choices, Career Paths and Career Interests. The presentations will continue when Mr. Lee Davis, CEO of Lee Davis & Associates, will visit the middle school to discuss Entrepreneurship. Additional speakers and topics planned for 2018 include:

A Team from US Probation & Pretrial Services – Careers in Criminal Justice
Joe Martelli CEO of Boss Labor Group – Engineering & Manufacturing
Panel of Health Care Professionals – Careers in Health Care

Pittsburgh Clayton secondary students will begin #UcanB’s Job Readiness Classes on December 6, 2017. Classes will meet bi-weekly (except for school testing dates) Students will compete in a Job Interview Competition; judges for this competition will include school staff, #UcanB instructors and volunteers from the business community.

Finally, all students will participate in a Career Opportunity Fair. This will be the third annual fair hosted by the school and organized by #UcanB. Participating vendors at previous fairs have included Amazon, The City of Pittsburgh, Bidwell Training Center, Local 5 Electricians Union, US ARMY, US District Court of Western Pennsylvania and many, many more. Students can expect to meet representatives from approximately 30 different businesses and/or schools.

The May 30th Career Fair will conclude with a school-wide cookout. Clayton students, families, staff and community partners are invited to join in this special year end celebration.

Building Bridges for Business is a 501©3 organization headquartered in the Northside of Pittsburgh. The mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the region by providing educational enrichment programs, and opportunities for students to connect with vital educational, career and business resources. 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.

Class speakers from the local business world, Power Trips to area companies, and Opportunity Fairs for both students and parents, round out the program, giving students a tangible connection to career opportunities in our area. Students are able to complete a portfolio of work during the course that can be used to help them build resumes, apply to colleges, or even launch their own businesses while still in school. Live broadcasts have made this exciting program available to distance learners.
UcanB has reached over 35,000 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.
To reach Building Bridges for Business contact us at info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org or visit our website and leave your comments at www.BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org.

The Education Foundation Supports UcanB

UcanB Shaler_Press_Release_2017 Shaler_2

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 3430.

Prior Year Press Releases – (Saved on Server)