Virtual Brainstorming Session

Agenda

• Welcome

• The Strategic Plan and its Objectives

  • Breakout Session 1 (Padlet): Priorities and Perspectives

• Planning Process

• Data Summary (brief presentation)

  • Breakout Session 2 (Padlet): Activities and Outcomes

• Onward - Next Steps

Data Summary (qualitative - quantitative)

Quantitative Data

Consortium-level Metric Targets (predefined by CAEP) 

• set by ERAE for 2022-2035

• updated for current reporting and planning session

Summit 2023 Presentation (external link)

Qualitative Data (gathered during the 2023 Stakeholder Summit April 21, 2023)

Presentation (external link)

Students shared the following suggestions:

• Support English learners by integrating training and learning English

• Improve adult student journey; include in pathways high-quality jobs as visible steps for underserved populations

• Promote equity and high quality jobs

• Revive student council, empower student networking, and build community

• Consider implementing reminder app to disseminate information, resources, events, opportunities

• Help students understand more complex options (share information across programs)

  • website: make paths apparent and present programs in a more inviting way

  • mailers

• Improve marketing

  • consider mailers

  • help students and teachers increase awareness of other programs

  • more events where everyone attends (career fairs, community day, weekend events)

  • improve word-of-mouth messaging

  • rely on shared messaging to remind students and to make it less intimidating)

  • work through K-12 schools to parents

Community Partners shared the following suggestions:

• Create a shared, living document (summary of partner capabilities), invite partners to edit and update on a regular basis (with a shared sense of responsibility) 

• Expand alignment across agencies and providers, so that paths are more continuous and broader (strengthen the ecosystem - partner with AJCC and County Employment Services)

• Establish connections to employers

• Establish connections to support professionals at other agencies

• Identify opportunities for paid work experience, internships, and apprenticeships (partner with AJCC for all students and Access for students 14-24 years old)

• Introduce options and connections for students with disabilities

• Introduce student mentors

• Introduce a re-entry specialist to ensure students understand their options

• Add/bring back classes: Life skills, barber/cosmetology training, foundational classes

• Support students with credentials and licensures

• Offer more support for students (especially for transitions to college and employment)

• Develop better trainings to real jobs (include virtual options)

College Partners, Faculty, Teachers, and Staff shared the following suggestions:

• Provide multilingual staff and technology, childcare, and transportation support  (partner with AJCC and County Employment Services)

• Offer hybrid and other modalities (no waiting lists)

• Recruit students (better) through catalog, social media, job fairs, and special events (also in partnership with other organizations in the ecosystem)

• Strengthen community outreach and program quality through guest speakers, field trips, work-based learning opportunities 

• Foster equity and high quality of programs through opportunities for professional training and job shadowing

Business Partners shared the following suggestions:

• Encourage community partners to present to classes

• Makes sure there are true career paths (so that students don't get stuck in positions)

• Provide more information to employers so that employees are aware of opportunities

• Provide continuing feedback (from employer to training program and vice versa)

• Businesses are trying to figure our how to pay for training; might be a joint effort - not all employers can pay for training

• Advocate for students who might face legal barriers

• "We can teach the skills but need to find the students."

  • Caterpillar: five locations offer employment between $20-$31/hr; diversity is important; recruiting women into the field; looking for technicians with 8-10 years of experience ; CAT program (4-5 years of experience); work with Miramar College and provide scholarship for their program (cover books, materials); employment at journeyman level (get a tool box valued at $20,000 after staying 4-5 years)

  • UC San Diego looking for partnership in Culinary Arts

  • Upholstery - lack of trained professionals

  • Goodwill - paid training 

• Need to set clear expectations ("Many people don't understand how to complete something." Also: "Employees are not always willing to take on harder training, even if the pay is higher.")

• Explore apprenticeships and internships; craftsman and artisan

• Look at other programs to model what works in training pipeline