Embedded Files
OVERVIEW
Expanding Access to Career Development Programs
Project Partner: The government of Mt. Oliver, PA.
Tech used: Graphic and web design.
Project Description: Learn, Earn, Grow is a collaborative effort between the Everett Program and the township of Mt. Oliver, PA. This project came about when one of our Everett Members accidentally moved to the area during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
The ultimate goal of Learn, Earn, Grow is to connect residents with career development resources in the Pittsburgh Area.
Project Location: A City within a City
Unique Need, Unique Opportunity
The blank square you see on the map to the the left is Mt. Oliver. Mt. Oliver is an entirely independent borough surrounded by Pittsburgh on all sides. Once a hub of middle class prosperity the borough refused annexation. Unfortunately it's independence did not spare it from the economic downturn which accompanied the exit of industry from the rust belt. Today, poverty sit's near 30 % in Mt. Oliver.
What the Borough's independence does provide is a flexibility, approachiblity, and proximity to it's constituents. With just over 3,000 residents the Borough's small size and autonomy give them the flexibility to support projects like this one.
Deliverables
Website
Billboard
The primary deliverable for this project is an informational web page featuring information about career development resources available in the Pittsburgh area. It is now a permanent, and dynamic, feature on the Mt. Oliver website.
Learn, Earn, Grow url: https://mtoliver.com/home/for-residents/learn-earn-grow/
Once we created the website for Learn, Earn, Grow; the next phase of the project was promoting it. The primary delivarble for this phase of the project was this billboard. Located on the busiest road in and out of Mt. Oliver, we ran the billboard for the month of August.
Spreading the Word
Once we launched the website and had the design for the billboard in place, we wanted to spread the word in person as well. Through the months of June, July and August concerts are hosted in the Mt. Oliver Square. At six of these events we set up a table to spread the word about Learn, Earn, Grow. We collected emails to send out personalized information and answered any questions people had for us.
Lessons Learned
Heads
Hands
Hearts
The concept for Learn, Earn, Grow, was born through froming relationships in the Mt. Oliver community. Our team member Elias spent some months living in the neighborhood during the pandemic. In this time they were able to form some relationships in the community. After attending some city council meetings and reading some economic analysis reports put together by the Borough; Learn, Earn, Grow came together.
To bring Learn, Earn, Grow into fruition the primary tools utilized were graphic design and web design. For this the primary resource utilized was Canva.
Learn, Earn, Grow was fairly unique in that it was carried out by a one person Everett Team. While this is true, the project could not have been carried out alone. The relationships that were formed in the community and the support received from the broader Everett Community were crucial and instilled the crucial values of community and collaboration.
Sustainability
The Future
Learn, Earn, Grow is now a permanent feature on the Mt. Oliver website. Our partners in the city government have expressed interest in expanding this project in the future. This might entail new promotion efforts, collaborative endeavors with other community organizations, and potentially future collaboration with the Everett Program.
Meet the Team
Elias Macias
Team Bio
Learn, Earn, Grow had a smaller than average team, with only official team member. Elias is in the tenth year of his undergraduate studies. Originally completing the inroductory Everett courses in 2014-2015, he has taken a circuitous path to completing and Everett Project and earning his degree. Majoring in Sociology with a focus in GISES and minoring in Legal Studies, he hopes to puruse a legal career in the non-profit sector.
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