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As another successful UcanB school year comes to a close, I would like to take a minute to thank the people who make our Career Education Program possible. Our guest speakers share invaluable, real-life experiences with local 6-12th grade students to help our kids better understand the realities and expectations of future careers. The following individuals helped educate thousands of Western Pennsylvania students throughout the 2017-18 school year…   Rocco Cozza – The Cozza Company Shannon Krohe – UPMC Health Plan Domenic Mantella – I Got a Guy Solutions Gino Palmosina – Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith’s Office Joe Martelli – BOSS Labor Group Joe Ellis – UPMC Magee Dan Deasy – PA State Representative Jessica Albert – US Probation & Pretrial Services David Holzer – Pittsburgh Combat Club Erik Ross – Bitcore Jessica Lee – Jazz Vocalist/Vive Venture Jim Gabriel – Sevan Multi-Site Solutions Traci York – Career Training Academy Walt Bentley – Local 5 Electricians Union Dan Quigley – Quigley Photography Paul Sheldon – Dreamosophy Patrick Sullivan – Civil Environmental Consultants Erin Long – Omni William Penn Ross Acuri – Brightwood Career Institute Breanna Logan – Student @ Penn State University Anita Williams – Penn State University Greg Hojdila – Local 712 Electricians Union Julius Boatwright – Steel Smiling Lee Davis – Lee Davis & Associates Earl Lamar – Mon Valley Initiative Aaron Aldrich – Bridgeway Capital Amy LaSota – Bidwell Training Center Anjali Martin – Partner4Work/Learn n Earn Cheyenne Lamar – Partner4Work/Learn n Earn James Protin – Mackin Engineering/Author & Speaker Patrick Stefano – PA State Senator Alexander Nichols – Omega Business Consulting Camera Chatham Bartolotta – PA State Senator Corey O’Connor – Pittsburgh City Councilman Students from dozens of local school districts participated in guest presentations. These included Pittsburgh Public Schools, Sto-Rox, Springdale, Carlynton, Hopewell, Propel Schools, Clayton Academy, Belle Vernon, Laurel Highlands and more! Pictured below are some highlights from guest presentations. Jessica Albert of US Probation & Pretrial Services of Western Pennsylvania discussed Careers in Criminal Justice with students at Hopewell Junior High. Mrs. Albert visited Hopewell School District twice this school year. She also spoke with students at Sto-Rox High School, Springdale High School, Carlynton High School, Westinghouse Summer School and Propel Braddock High School. Chief US Probation Officer Belinda Ashley spoke with students at Pittsburgh Classical Academy. US Probation and #UcanB were solid partners throughout the year. Our two organizations also partnered to organize and host a community career fair on behalf of State Representative Dan Deasy and PA Senator Wayne Fontana. Julius Boatwright of Steel Smiling visits students at Propel Braddock High School. Mr. Boatwright also visited Clayton Academy Middle School students. His presentations included a career overview and a message to give back to the community. Julius Boatwright was both informative and inspiring for our #UcanB students. We look forward to having him back as a partner for the 2018-19 school year. State Representative Dan Deasy has been a regular guest speaker for the #UcanB Career Education Program for three years now. Mr. Deasy visited Sto-Rox for the second year in a row to discuss Careers in Government & Politics. He has also visited Pittsburgh Classical Academy. In addition, our organization and Rep. Deasy have partnered to host a number of career fairs and hiring events for adults in Pittsburgh’s West End Communities. The examples go on and on. It truly was a great school year. And, much of the thanks goes to our fantastic list of guest speakers. The #UcanB Program looks forward to summer and next year…and a continued partnership with all of our wonderful speakers. Thanks again for all that you...

Building Bridges Announces UcanB Program exceeds Career Education and Work Standards Building Bridges for Business’ Education Department provides career education and job placement to thousands of Western Pennsylvania’s middle and high school students via its UcanB Program. UcanB began this programming with 1 school (Keystone Oaks High School) and 20 students in 2013.  The program now partners with 30 school districts and thousands of students who rely heavily on the services, resources and education provided by UcanB.  This project and partnerships with many local foundations and companies allow 6th – 12th grade students to see what life is like after high school or college. UcanB’s provision of these services is critical to student development and the needs of every school district in the State of Pennsylvania.  In 2017, Pennsylvania’s Department of Education instituted its Career Education and Workplace (CEW) Standards, which require all school districts to provide education in the areas of career awareness, career exploration and job readiness.  Pennsylvania school districts now must document and report CEW Standards classroom activities for all 5th, 8th and 11th grade students.  UcanB makes this easy for its educational partners because this is exactly the type of career education the UcanB Program has been providing for four years.  Schools across the region call UcanB team members to be able to meet and exceed these standards. For example, all of UcanB’s 8th grade students receive digital career portfolio’s that are developed with the guidance of a UcanB instructor and a classroom teacher designated by the individual school.  The portfolios house all student documents related to career education such as Copies of Career Assessments, Documentation of Career Research, Resumes, Letter of Reference, Test Scores & Grades, Extra Curricular Activities and a College Tracker list, that allows students to follow colleges and universities for info, open house announcements and scholarship opportunities.  At the time of audit, school teachers and administrators can go directly to student’s portfolios and download all documents that demonstrate CEW Standards have been met. The Pittsburgh Community has rallied around the UcanB Career Education Program in support of this effort.  A vast array of organizations and individuals contribute to help educate youth in Western Pennsylvania.  More than 50 local groups participate in Opportunity Fairs hosted by UcanB students and parents and guardians. This allows UcanB the opportunity to expose students to a multitude of career paths and job opportunities.  Students also meet with a diverse group of businesses representing government, retail, IT, entrepreneurship, military, media, advanced manufacturing and more!  This provides realistic exposure to high-demand career paths, opportunities for mentorship and a ‘live’, active learning environment which immerses students in the study of career...

Students begin 8th grade as children and leave 8th grade as young adults. Eighth grade tends to be an odd and often awkward school year for most young people. Social pressure sets in as kids really try to figure out who they are and who they want to be. Many 8th grade students make decisions about the extracurricular activities they will carry on in high school while others continue to dabble in a variety of options trying to make up their minds. It is a transition year full of self-exploration and choice. By the end of the school year, 8th grade students are asked to select their high school courses in accordance to their career interests while many have not thought that far ahead. (Post by Scott Albert, Vice President – UcanB Career Education)   Eight graders who participate in Pittsburgh’s #UcanB Career Education Program receive guidance, resources and mentors to augment their Career Education. At Shaler Area Middle School, just north of Pittsburgh, 8th grade students meet every Monday with a #UcanB instructor. The #UcanB instructor guides Shaler’s 8th graders through a series of career assessments and discussions related to work, college, military or apprenticeship. All students leave the #UcanB program with a digital career portfolio, which they can continue to use throughout high school. At Hopewell Junior High, another Pittsburgh-area school, 8th graders also develop a digital career portfolio with #UcanB, but their program is supplemented with a series of guest speakers as well. Professionals from the US District Court, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Penn State University and Natural Capitalism Solutions have visited Hopewell’s 8th grade classes to discuss various career paths, green technologies, STEM degrees and the importance of safe social media. Pittsburgh Public Schools also participates in the #UcanB Career Education Program. For example, 8th grade students at Pittsburgh Classical Academy (PCA) participate in a version of #UcanB that is very similar to Shaler’s #UcanB class. PCA’s 8th graders spend every other Friday in a computer lab with their #UcanB instructor. The students complete a battery of O*Net career assessments and use the results of these assessments in the development of their digital career portfolios. These are three examples of over thirty Pennsylvania school districts that have adopted a version of #UcanB. As Pennsylvania’s requirements for Career Education and Work Standards (CEW) have recently changed, school districts find great value in their partnerships with #UcanB. The 8th grade classes are of particular importance. The #UcanB Program assists 8th graders with their transitions from middle to high school; #UcanB also assures that school districts meet the newly adopted CEW goals and outcomes. Every 8th grade #UcanB student completes the #UcanB Program with a Digital Career Portfolio, a Basic Resume, a Complete O*Net Career Assessment & Profile and Documented Participation Career-related Classroom Presentations, which are conducted by outside professionals.   Some 14 year olds leave the 8th grade with very definite decisions and a game-plan for high school. Others are continuing to explore options. The #UcanB Program meets these young people where they are. The resources provided via #UcanB help some of these young adults to advance their plan while the same resources help other 8th grade students to continue exploration. While #UcanB serves many students in grades 6-12, the #UcanB organization is particularly proud of its work with 8th grade students. It is for this reason that #UcanB provides year-round career education to students in this age group. For more information about the #UcanB Career Education Program, contact Scott Albert at...

  Career education has been provided by UcanB for several years – inschool – after school and in summer programs. May is Careers Month for #UcanB Students. Below is a list of upcoming events. Career Weeks,  Careers Days and Career Month !! May 7-10 is Career Week @ Sto-Rox High School. Mini Career Fairs will take place everyday in the school cafeteria from 11:00-12:30. Employers & schools will have tables set up. May 14-18 is Career Week @ Hopewell Junior High. In-class presentations every morning from 8:55-10:30. Speakers will present to back-to-back groups of 8th graders. May 21 is Career Day at CAPA. Seeking presenters to discuss Artistic Careers. May 23 is the Career Fair at Carlynton High School. Throughout the day in the school’s gym. May 30 is the Career Fair and Cookout at Clayton High in the North Side. Fair is from 10-12…cookout immediately after. May 30 we will also have #UcanB speakers at Career Day at Environmental Charter School.   Each school will share careers and also soft skill education for students provided by UcanB. The summary findings for the Allegheny Conference /US Chamber of Commerce report: Recent college graduates and employers agree that soft skills are important for workplace success. There is a gap between how prepared recent college graduates think they are, and how prepared employers find them to be. Recent college graduates and employers differ on which soft skills are most important. Recent college graduates and employers differ greatly on which soft skills merit training. Recent college graduates and employers agree that a  certificate course in soft skills training would be beneficial for college...

Building Bridges for Business’ Education Department provides career education and job placement to thousands of Western Pennsylvania’s middle and high school students via its #UcanB Program. The organization’s Workforce Development Department coordinates and/or participates in a number of community events designed to advance the careers of working adults throughout the region.   The Pittsburgh Community has rallied around the #UcanB Career Education Program. A vast array of organizations and individuals contributed time and resources to help educate youth in Western Pennsylvania. More than 50 guest speakers from more than 50 local organizations and businesses visited #UcanB classrooms thus far in 2018, participated in #UcanB events and hosted #UcanB students for tours. This allowed #UcanB the opportunity to expose students to a multitude of career paths and job opportunities. Students met with a diverse group of businesses representing government, retail, IT, entrepreneurship, military, media, advanced manufacturing and more! In addition, the Workforce Development Department received similar support in its efforts to provided services to working-aged adults. Businesses and individuals from Erie, Pa all the way to Charleston, WV contributed to this portion of Building Bridges’ mission. Building Bridges’ Career Fairs were fully booked within 24 hours. Over 1,500 adults received direct services through the Workforce Development Department even though the organization does not have a specific budget dedicated for these...

When you make a difference in the life of a young person, you create a better future. I know because I’m lucky enough to experience it every day as a teacher for the UcanB program. With UcanB, I provide career skills education for students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it. I connect communities, employers, and schools to provide economic opportunities for students and their parents. I am helping to build a strong, revitalized Pittsburgh region, for today and tomorrow. The best part is, you can join in. I’d like to personally invite you to learn more about this incredible program, and how you can make a difference for young people right here in our region. UcanB is a unique hands-on career education program for students in grades 6-12. Consisting of over 76 weeks of customizable curriculum, UcanB focuses on in-demand fields, STEM careers, entrepreneurship, and soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and time management. Schools choose the areas that are the best fit for their students and communities, and UcanB brings teachers, business and civic leaders, and our unique “Coffee With…” series, that includes interviews with entrepreneurs in a wide array of industries. Students participate in classes, small group projects, mentorship, and portfolio building. During the program, students have the opportunity to interact face-to-face with mentors in the career fields they want to pursue, asking questions and getting real world insight into the most in-demand industries in our region. I’d love to share with you what our students are saying about the UcanB program and the difference it’s making in their lives today. Here are some reactions from students who have experienced UcanB: “I believe that the speakers were helpful and well spoken. The topic of health care careers was most helpful to me. I want to be a paramedic. I believe that I have more understanding of my career plans. They did address me and answered my questions and that was appreciated. I also liked how they saw the potential in each and every one of us. They actually believe in people like us. They came to encourage us. We need more speakers like these.” M.B. Shaler High School “I want to get a career that I LOVE!! I learned this through the UcanB classes. My next step is to explore internships in an interesting field.” 11th Grade Propel student U can B Teacher, 2018...