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Pasadena Chamber Enhances Education With Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Education Feb 15, 2018
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local business and entrepreneurs step up to provide classroom speakers, job shadow opportunities and more
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is an active partner in the success of students in College and Career Academies within Pasadena Unified School District.
During the current school year, the Chamber has enhanced the educational experience through work-based learning events with and through our business member partners. This work has also positively impacted other members of our community seeking internships, employment and workforce development support.
The Chamber’s Workforce Development efforts and Work-Based Learning Initiatives are spearheaded by Amy Foell, director of workforce development.
This is the progress that has been made through December of 2017:
So far this school year, Ms. Foell recruited nine Health Career Academy seniors from Blair High School into Huntington Hospital’s year-long internship program.
Ms. Foell coordinated and facilitated multiple advisory board meetings for the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, Law and Public Service, Health Career Academy, Engineering and Environmental Science Academy. She also consulted the CEO and App Academy with work-based learning best practices and support.
Through Ms. Foell’s efforts on behalf of the Chamber, we connected the Rose City Continuation School Career Exploration Academy with Old Navy in Hastings Village to create an embedded internship component into their customer service curriculum utilizing Old Navy as the pipeline for the students.
Other efforts included attending multiple team collaboration meetings with teachers and administrators at our dedicated academies to plan work-based learning events and better understand the educational needs of the students and teachers.
Ms. Foell also recruited five students from across academies interested in bio science and bio manufacturing to the Amgen Biotech Experience at the Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative.
The Chamber presented a resume workshop to juniors enrolled in the Law and Public Service and Business & Entrepreneurship academies in preparation for mock interviews and summer internships.
The Chamber helped recruit PUSD students to volunteer for One Arroyo events through Academy teachers. Ms. Foell also recruited and coordinated non-profits to be guest speakers and participate in “Serving Our Community with Nonprofit Partners Project” with the 11th graders enrolled in the Law & Public Service Academy. The participating organizations are; World Wildlife Federation, Peace Over Violence, Streets are for Everyone, Day One, Plan!t Now, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House and the American Red Cross. Small groups of students will select an organization to volunteer and create a PSA to support their mission as a classroom assignment.
Ms. Foell also identified and coordinated teacher externships for five teachers (three from John Muir High School, one from Blair High School and one from Pasadena High School). The externships were with Micro Consultants dealing with 3D Printing and the USC Climate Change Policy Workshop, which included teacher materials and $150.00 stipend and CERT training.
Ms Foell also enrolled nine PUSD seniors into the winter internship program offered to students that did not have an opportunity during the summer of their junior year. She also made presentations to Pasadena High School seniors regarding employment opportunities post-graduation that not require military or college experience.
Ms. Foell scheduled guest speaker Jerri Price-Gaines of Clazzical Notes to address Business and Entrepreneur Sophomores regarding future volunteer opportunities with her organization. She also recruited business partners to evaluate the Business & Entrepreneurship sophomores on their graphic design projects and branding/marketing strategies as part of their mid-semester grade. Participating partners were; Yvonne Boutte and Andy Tien of Pasadena Service Federal Credit Union, Ray Carlson, Keshia L. Bowen Owner of Simply Divine Salon, Laurette Clash of PIE Accounting, Aaron Wheeler of Pasadena Media and Start Up Grind, Leo Cablayan and Alan Romero of Romero Law.
The Chamber was instrumental in forging a partnership with The World Wildlife Federation that resulted in a presentation to the Engineering & Environmental Science Academy seniors in September. The World Wildlife Federation also provided a bus to the John Muir High students to attend P-22 Day at Griffith Park on Sunday, October 22, 2017. Students from all the academies along with a few chaperones had a great experience at the event.
Ms. Foell’s efforts also resulted in the Blair High Health Career Academy’s Speed Mentoring and Mock Interview Night for the 11th graders. Twenty-one business partners participated evaluating student’s resumes and providing feedback on their interview skills.
Ms. Foell was also able to connect the Pasadena Playhouse Community Programs Manager to the Academy teachers to encourage teachers to take advantage of free theater tickets for their students during the upcoming season.
The Chamber also recruited food industry partners to evaluate senior Business and Entrepreneurship Academy mid-term project, Amazing Avocado where students break up in to consultation teams to compete for a fictitious avocado grower. Partners were, Bob Harrison of Green Street Restaurant, Kelli Wong of Whole Foods (Arroyo Pkwy) and Elizabeth Eichhorn the CEO/Founder of Mary Lee Kitchen.
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is very grateful for the assistance and support we receive from our members and the business community as a whole. Without the many companies, agencies and individuals who step up to support work-based learning in our community, our local students could not have the experiences, develop the confidence and build their own entrepreneurial and workplace skills.
You can support the Chamber’s work-based learning and workforce development activities by donating to the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Any donation is 100% tax deductible and will go directly to supporting our work with students in our local public schools. Click here to donate: http://www.pasadenayouthworks.org/host/donate.
If you would like to volunteer your time, host and intern, be a job shadow location or mentor a local student, click here: http://www.pasadenayouthworks.org/host/signup and fill out the brief volunteer form.
The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a business service member organization that works to ensure the prosperity of its members through a variety of offerings including referrals, networking, workshops and seminars, events and much more. The Chamber serves 1450 member companies.
