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Educator & Community Engagement

Educator & Community Engagement – Opportunities & Benefits

Community-based organizations play an essential role in collaborating with educators and employers to ensure that ALL students in the Capital region receive a high-quality STEM education and Career-Connected Learning activities that lead to an interest-driven career path and a family-wage job. There are many ways that community partners can engage in STEM education and workforce talent development.

Ways to Get Involved

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Early Learners

Ways To Get Involved
Collaborate with ESD113’s Early Learning Community Engagement Specialist.
Host an early learning community event.
Collaborate with local employers to promote family-friendly workplaces.
Partner with the Capital STEM Alliance on an early learning catalyst project.
Increase funding for early education.
What It Looks Like
Visit local communities where early learning & childcare centers are not available. Meet with local families who lack access to early education & childcare.
Resource fair, Block Fest, Paint to Learn, etc. at a park, early learning center, etc.
Attend a listening session with local employers who provide onsite and/or off-site childcare.
Host a professional development workshop for early educators. Co-facilitate the semi-annual Moving Forward Together summit or serve as a panelist. Share resources, events & programs via the Capital STEM Alliance monthly newsletter.
Apply for DOC, DCYF & other grants.
Benefits
Gain first-hand knowledge of local issues from underserved families. Understand the education & childcare gaps in early STEM access from a local perspective.
Gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of early learning from families & children.
Understand how employer-provided childcare affects businesses, families, employees, and impacts the economic growth of a community.
Promotion of the community-based organization region wide. Networking opportunities with educators, employers, elected officials, and state & local agencies. Opportunities to engage in advocacy activities around childcare & early learning.
Grow organizational capacity to support early education & childcare initiatives in the region.

Grades K-12

Ways To Get Involved
Attend the Capital STEM Alliance quarterly partners meetings
Apply for PacMtn WDCdemonstration grant funding to support out of school youth
Host or volunteer in a resource Youth fair or school event to showcase your organization
What It Looks Like
See presentations by career program builders, youth engaged in career prep or launch programs, regional updates and career connected learning events
Provide integrated services & supports to youth ages 14-29 who face barriers to employment
Offer organization resources & programs to youth, caregivers, educators and community leaders at a community event or school fundraiser
Benefits
Promotion of the organization region- wide. Networking opportunities with multi-sector system leaders. Support and partnership on advocacy issues
Ongoing funding from PacMtn
Develop alliances with school administrators & support staff who work with disadvantaged & marginalized youth and families

College & Career

Ways To Get Involved
Collaborate with a local employer to pilot a program builder project in Career Explore or Career Prep at a local school
Volunteer at a post-secondary event
Partner with the Capital STEM Alliance and schools on grants that support Children, youth & families
Host an employer-led STEM Cafe (1-day, after school)
What It Looks Like
Career Explore: one-day career event for a class or grade level. Students interview employees from a local business or industry. Career Prep: short-term (up to 40 hrs) summer or weekend internship for one or more students at a local business site under the mentorship of an employee. Either paid or unpaid.
Provide written resources to students & families. Work with college or university staff to mentor enrolling students. Assist at a financial literacy workshop, or guide students/families on a campus tour.
Co-write grant proposals for funds to provide resources & programs for barriered youth (skills training, transportation & broadband access, Tools, uniforms, safety equipment)
Host up to 20 teachers in a workshop led by a local employer, that introduces a transferable skill that can be taught to their students
Benefits
Student exposure to local careers. Worksite training provides hands-on experience; mentorship offers advice on skills, education and cost to enter employment in a specific occupation, prior to HS graduation.
Gain knowledge of post-secondary enrollment process/procedures, become a valued resource for FAFSA completion, learn about valuable resources for students.
Become a trusted liaison between schools and employers. Receive PacMtn Demonstration grant funding. Expand organization influence through relationship-building with schools & employers
Receive pass-through funding from the Capital STEM Alliance to host STEM teacher cafes. Grow influence with employers. Increase student access to STEM skills needed for careers