The Power of Our Network
By Claire Ramsey, Network Resource Coordinator
This fall, BB2C held our first two-day Community and Career Connected Learning (CCCL) Summit. Like our first two one-day Summits in 2021 and 2020, this year’s focus was on highlighting connections among business owners, community groups, and educators in Southeastern Ohio. Designed with the intention to offer sessions engaging each of the three sectors, our 2022 event was well attended. Presenters in each of the fifteen sessions engaged a small group or small crowd of business professionals, policy makers, educators with K12 and higher education organizations, and university students. One community member specifically commented, “I loved the diversity in groups, organizations, and schools represented—this really speaks volumes to the work you're doing in regional collaboration.” Similar to last year’s feedback, the opportunity to network and the lunchtime roundtable discussion with high school students remain valuable additions to attendees’ overall experiences. One teacher candidate affirmed this sentiment, saying:
[My favorite part of the Summit was] Getting to converse with other educators and business personnel. As students we were included in the conversation and our input was valued. We were able to network with potential employers or colleagues and get insight directly from those working in the field.
The second day of the event involved nine in-depth sessions about doing the work of CCCL with our keynote speakers providing a powerful culminating address preceding the day’s lunch and break for the field trips. We express appreciation to Dr. DeeAnn Gehlauf, Anna Reed, and Dr. Jacqueline Yahn for making these connections and concluding our on-site sessions.
We would like to thank everyone who promoted, presented, attended, assisted, and provided feedback surrounding this year’s 3rd Annual Community and Career Connected Learning Summit. The contributions of our partners: Ohio University, Eastern; East Central Ohio Educational Service Center; Ohio College TechPrep; Success Bound enhanced every facet of the event and were invaluable in facilitating the event alongside our BB2C Staff. We look forward to continuing our partnerships! Finally, thank you to the organizations who signed up to table at the event: Foundation of Appalachian Ohio, Rural Action, and Buckeye Career Center, and our caterers: Pike40 and Undo’s West. Overall, we engaged 35 presenters, 63 non-presenting attendees, and 15 high school students (present at the lunchtime roundtable discussions).
With the 3rd Annual Summit behind us, Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) is looking forward to our upcoming Family Career Awareness Day, Real World Problem Scenario training for educators, and other Upcoming Events in Washington County and our Business Engagement with Community Awareness (BECA) network!