Strengthening the Springfield Workforce
Late Tuesday morning (Nov. 12th) at the Lane Community College Center for Meeting and Learning over 150 select 9th and 10th grade high school students from A3, Springfield High, and Thurston High School met with representatives from local businesses during the Career Exploration, to discuss Career Technical Education (CTE). This event was part of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing #WorkReady initiative, designed to strengthen our local workforce and connect students with future careers right here in Springfield. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions and discuss various career paths with local professionals working in their field of interest. Representatives from over 40 businesses representing a multitude of industries were present and answering questions. From science and technology to arts and communication; 9th and 10th graders got the chance to ask working professionals what kind of training they needed, what a day-in-the-life is like or what kind of opportunities they could find in Springfield. The event was a great success, with these business leaders imparting enthusiasm and understanding of their industry to our local students, in the hopes of further cultivating the local pool of highly qualified talent.
Thank you to our program sponsors Forrest Creative Solutions, LLC and McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.
Also thanks to our #WorkReady Partners: Springfield Public Schools and The City of Springfield, and to our #WorkReady impact investors: PeaceHealth, OCCU, KEZI9 News Skilled to Work, Giustina Resources, Columbia Bank, Leahy Cox LLP, Purakal Cylinders, Lane Community College, Murphy, Chambers Construction, and Royal Caribbean International.
Thank you to Shield Catering for providing lunch and a big thank you the students who participated!
Check out the Springfield Chamber of Commerce website for more information about the #WorkReady initiative or to find out how you can get involved.
