Illustrating community collaborations: Career pathways for adult learners

Video proposal: Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE) (5/1/18) Communications plan developed by Heather Peters, Communications Coordinator, for production in May-June 2018. This document will serve as an organizational tool for video coordination/timelines; it is not final talking points or a story board. Schedule will be developed once availability of video participants and videographer are received.

Background

Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE) provides free programs for adults who want to acquire a high school diploma/GED; learn English language skills; improve their math, reading, grammar or writing skills; or for those who want to prepare for getting a job, a promotion, or pursue post-secondary education.

Objectives

Produce a video highlighting career pathways programs, which are a collaborative partnership between Metro North ABE and local colleges, businesses and the workforce center: o o

Office and technology professional careers Healthcare career pathways

o o

Precision sheet metal careers Commercial driver’s license

The video will be shown to community leaders to gain support and increase awareness about the program; and used as a recruitment tool on the Metro North ABE website, social media pages and at outreach events/presentations.

Interviews

Sound bites from the following content experts will help illustrate the key messages about our program and our partnerships: • • • • • •

Michelle Trelstad – Director, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education Tim O’Neill – Regional Analyst, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Nicole Swanson – Director, Anoka County Job Training Center Shirley Barnes – Chair, Anoka County Workforce Development Board Anoka-Ramsey Community College or Anoka Technical College representative One student who has completed the program; one employer testimonial

Key messages

Information from content experts listed above will help illustrate the key messages about our program and our partnerships: 1. Metro North ABE is coordinated collaboratively between eight school districts and community education departments in the north metro: [Graphic needed?] o o o o

Anoka-Hennepin Schools Brooklyn Center Schools Centennial School District Columbia Heights Public Schools

o o o o

Elk River Area School District Fridley Public Schools Spring Lake Park Schools St. Francis School District

2. Adult basic education is a program from the Minnesota Department of Education – and the programming we offer is free to any adult ages 17 and up.

3. Metro North ABE programs collaborate with local businesses, Workforce Centers, the Minnesota Department of Education, local counties and K-12 education programs to strengthen our community by equipping adults with skills they need to join the workforce and attain a job providing families with a livable wage, benefiting our local economy.

4. The college and career readiness and digital literacy curriculum based on standards is developed in partnership with local workforce centers, colleges and businesses to ensure instructional content is aligned with real-life academic needs and relevant employment skills so students can prepare for college programs, get a job or start a successful career in our own neighborhoods and communities.

5. These partnerships happen across the state of Minnesota; here is an example of how it works for us, locally.

Filming: June 7, 2018

The videographer may ask the following questions to help pull our key messages into the video footage.

The videographer may ask the following questions to help pull our key messages into the video footage.

Michelle Trelstad – Director, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education •

What is adult basic education?

•

o

Adult basic education is a program funded by Minnesota Department of Education and federal funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Grant (WIOA) – and the programming we offer is free to any adult ages 17 and up.

o

We provide classes to prepare adults for pursuing their high school diploma or GED; enhancing their basic reading, writing and math skills; learning or improving English language skills; digital literacy skills; transition into post-secondary programs or certification training; or getting the job/career training needed to pursue college or a career path.

o

The overarching goal of Metro North ABE is to connect low-skill adults with opportunities for employment and career advancement.

ABE works to ensure low-skill adults gain skills that are in high-demand and lead to well-paying jobs.

o

Metro North ABE works with community partners to help low-skills adults increase their stability and self-sufficiency. (Public Schools, Correctional Facilities, Businesses, Work Force Center, Colleges)

How far does the Metro North ABE program reach?

o

•

Metro North ABE is coordinated collaboratively between eight school districts and community education departments in the north metro; reaching as far north as St. Francis or Elk River school districts and as far south as Columbia Heights or Brooklyn Center.

How many students does the program support, on average, each year?

o

Our program is connected to the success of our economy. This past year we served 3,639 adults, which is a bit lower compared to past years, but it is a direct result of the low unemployment rate. When the job market is doing well, we see fewer adults looking for help.

o

Some of the support we provide expands even further than diplomas/GEDs - we equip people with English-language skills, training or certification for future jobs, preparation to pursue secondary college opportunities - and so much more.

Tim O’Neill – Regional Analyst, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

•

•

How do adult basic education programs benefit our local economy?

o

We see adult basic education programs as a great partner in this.

o

We have heard of unique instances that ABE programs are able to seek out opportunities with cities, counties, colleges and employers to bridge the opportunities available in our communities to support all parties involved.

o

Labor market information includes data regarding income disparities and inequities. Using that information, the Work Force Center and ABE programs can target outreach and training programs for identified groups.

o

Minnesota is experiencing a severe skilled worker shortage. Programs like Metro North ABE can provide training that addresses the workers skills gap.

What trends do you see in the job market right now where training or certification is necessary?

o •

There is a need for workers in the manufacturing industry, the healthcare field, commercial driving and technical skills in the business or office settings.

How do you see filling jobs locally impacts the local economies?

o

When we can recruit our own community members to get the training or certifications that they need to fill those job vacancies in our own community - it is positive for that local economy. These people live here, work here and shop here.

o

With the low statewide unemployment rates, we need to ensure we engage the entire workforce. An inadequate supply of qualified labor could cause state or local economies to stall. Through collaboration with local work force centers, adult basic education programs and local colleges, we can provide basic, advanced and certificate training in partnership with local businesses to ensure that jobseekers are successful in attaining in-demand job skills.

Nicole Swanson – Director, Anoka County Job Training Center

•

•

How does the work force center or the Anoka County Job Training Center partner with adult basic education programs to successfully fill the job vacancies in our communities?

o

We provide funding to provide the technical training offered through colleges and ABE programs to prepare adult learners for the jobs and opportunities in our communities.

o

Together we provide direct services to adults seeking to improve their skills to enter employment or advance into a better paying position or career sector.

How does an adult learner benefit from the connections that Metro North ABE have with the Anoka County job training center?

o

Learners receive wrap-around services that support them in ways that enhances their ability to stay engaged and successful in their learning/training.

o

The Anoka County Workforce Center has connections with local employers and labor market information that provides direction, and at times resources, to quickly respond to emerging or existing employment opportunities.

o

Because adult basic education students and work force center clients often have multiple needs, the collaboration allows individuals to have needs met simultaneously and more comprehensively. Oftentimes the services provided by the Anoka County Work Force Center and Metro North ABE compliment each other.

o

Together, ABE and the WFC can engage local colleges to support training efforts.

o

At times there are grants that focus on shared clientele/students. The referral process allows greater access to referrals. The Anoka County Work Force Center has the capacity to offer leadership in providing coordinated and responsive public workforce development in partnership with Metro North ABE and post-secondary programs.

Shirley Barnes – Chair, Anoka County Workforce Development Board/employer testimonial – healthcare career pathways

•

Tell us how your business has benefitted from the employees that you recruited through Metro North ABE?

•

Can you speak to how those employees were prepared for the work upon completion of a career pathway program?

•

What else can you tell us about why these partnerships are important?

Filming: September/October 2018

The videographer team will film candid footage in classrooms and film interviews with the following participants in fall 2018.

• •

One student who has completed the program One employer testimonial