MV CONNECT
Your Connecting Activities Newsletter - Spring 2021
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New Youth-Driven STEM Awareness Partnership |
Connecting Activities and YouthWorks have partnered with Haverhill High School’s Career Technical Education Department to create a collaborative effort developed by co-enrolled participants and the HHS CTE director.
A creative concept led to the buildout of a new STEM internship offered to High School participants benefiting middle school youth in career exploration and awareness while providing high school youth with subsidized paid experience.
HHS student Ajmain Zahid, the concept creator, spearheaded the idea by bringing it to the CTE Director. In doing so, she discovered their ideas were in alignment helping to solidify plans to move forward. The conversation and idea lead to the successful roll-out of a virtual STEM program thanks to 2020 YouthWorks funding, MassHire MV Workforce Board Partnership, and the hard work of the CTE Department and HHS students.
Since the program's inception a little over a year ago, the STEM Career Awareness program has been able to host 25 high school interns and service a number of Haverhill middle school students.
Reflecting on her career exposure when she went to high school, Ajmain said “I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do once I got to High School. Growing up in a low-income area, and lacking opportunities, I didn’t have any exposure to any careers.”
Ajmain didn’t want other youth to be in the same position and wondered what legacy she could leave behind. She wanted to offer the chance for other kids to benefit by exploring options ahead of time. “I want the program to last for as many years as it can because it gives kids an opportunity to explore things they wouldn’t have explored otherwise. If they like it, they gain something, if they don’t there’s no loss, and it’s free for them.”
The program has already garnered benefit to middle school youth including Ajmain’s own sister. The opportunity to explore 5 different careers in healthcare, bio-medical, 3D printing, robotics, and game design allowed her to recognize a passion and interest in engineering. Something she would have otherwise not been exposed to. Because of this she was able to prepare accordingly and will be joining the information technology career track in the CTE department.
Even with the start of COVID restrictions, middle schoolers from grade 5-8 were able to sign up and take part in a rotation between career tracks and experience both virtual and hands on components.
In the healthcare track, youth were provided with and taught how to properly use PPE equipment. It was broken up into three days: day 1- hand hygiene and germs, day 2 - PPE and first aid and day 3 - mental health awareness.
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In the robotics track, youth were given various components that there were able to put together themselves while following instruction.
One of the female robotic interns shared her experience “It’s so empowering to be apart of a project that shows you already have what it takes. The fact that it was a paid internship really showed me my skills are valued, to know I have worth in my abilities, that is powerful. I felt much more confident in my ability to articulate myself and organize my information and my work. It was a platform to show us how to truly apply ourselves.”
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STEM Summit: Inspire a STEM Start
Thursday, May 6, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Massachusetts STEM Summit is Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Opening remarks start at 9, come earlier to be inspired by “Stem Stories.” Virtual and free for all.
This is a time to reflect and explore new approaches to meet the needs of STEM careers in Massachusetts. How do we continue to strengthen the STEM talent pipeline through creative approaches to building students' foundational STEM skills, developing high quality, guided STEM pathways, and deepening employer partnerships to promote STEM career opportunities in this hybrid working and learning environment.
The day is filled with panel presentations, plenary speakers, virtual exhibitors, and opportunities for virtual networking with like-minded STEM colleagues and enthusiasts. View the full agenda here. Register today to reserve your seat.
Have a STEM Story? Share on social media using the hashtag #MASTEMSummit
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“STEM is about learning and understanding the world.”
~Angel Palmer, Research Scientist, Abbott Rapid Diagnostics
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Students with STEM skills will have more career flexibility when they hit the workforce.
In addition to core academic knowledge, skills necessary for a successful career - growth mindset, ability to adapt quickly, think critically and discern fact from fiction, curiosity, willingness to learn from failure – will serve students in any field they choose for their future.
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Professional Development for IP Educators:
Massachusetts Work Immersion Network (MassWIN)
Do you have an established Innovation Pathway? Then you are eligible to apply for this competitive grant. DESE and the Executive Office of Education just launched the Massachusetts Work Immersion Network (MassWIN): a partnership with the Northeastern University Network for Experiential Teaching and Learning (NeXT) to bring work-based learning to scale, via technology-enabled, technically-supported student work-based learning experiences i.e internships, capstones and co-ops.
As part of MassWIN, and through an application process, DESE is soliciting eligible schools/districts to identify up to three educators - two classroom teachers and one internship/co-op coordinator - to participate in this professional development course. The work-based learning pilot will be implemented from July 7, 2021 through November 30, 2021. A $5,000 stipend is available. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on May 20, 2021.
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The Innovation Pathways team and the Office for College Career and Technical Education celebrates the newest Innovation Pathway designees this Wednesday, April 28, from 2:00-3:00 pm. Education Secretary Jim Peyser will offer opening remarks and participants will learn more about how Innovation Pathways is driving change in Massachusetts schools and supporting a community of educators. RSVP. |
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Signal Success: Learning the Skills for Today and Tomorrow |
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Opportunity to be Trained
Signal Success work-readiness program helps teens develop skills to be successful at work and in their future careers. DESE in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation, is offering high school educators who are creating broad career exploration courses and/or have received, or currently applying for, an Innovation Pathway designation, the opportunity to be trained in Signal Success.
The training takes place online from 9:30-11:30. There are fours dates to choose from: May 4, May 6, June 4 or June 8. For more information and to register - Signal Success Training.
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Signal Success by the Numbers
Over 44,000 teens and young adults have been served since 2007.
Over 17,000 YouthWorks participants have used Signal Success to get ready for work.
Massachusetts is one of the only states in the nation to invest in early work experience program for low-income youth. Operated by the state’s 16 workforce investment boards and associated youth-serving partners, the program is now in 31 communities.
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Youth at Risk (YAR) Conference
Wednesday, May 26, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(8-9 Exhibits, Opening Remarks at 9)
Do you work with youth at risk? Then this conference is for you. A partner of Pathways for Children, this is the region's only annual all-day conference for professionals who work with at-risk youth.
There will be over 40 workshops to help you build new strategies, strengthen your depth of knowledge, or learn to take care of yourself. View the full agenda here. Register. ($75.)
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Innovation Pathways:
5th Round
Innovation Pathways create strong partnerships with local employers to expose students to career options in specific high-demand industries - information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
DESE is accepting its fifth round of applications for the Innovation Pathways Designation.
Mark your calendar and watch for details for Part A application workshop planned for Wednesday, June 2.
If you are planning to apply for the Innovation Pathways Designation in school year 2021-2022, check out the details on support from the planning grant. Applicants submitting an application for a planning grant are due Thursday, June 24, and agree to submit a Part A application to DESE in October 2021.
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"I believe there should be a strong commitment to address a lack of access to career and technical education. In addition to addressing enrollment issues in CTE, we should increase work-based learning for all Massachusetts high school students and provide experiences like the state’s Innovation Pathways that help students with career choice."
Jean Eddy, president and CEO of American Student Assistance
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For details and updates on the Innovation Pathway designation, process, application forms and timeline for AY2021–2022, here is the website link: DESE Innovation Pathways website. |
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New Deputy Director:
A Long-time Commitment to Youth
Corina Ruiz is the new Deputy Director for the MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board. “My passion is to help people and I truly believe that this is God’s plan for me. There is a rewarding feeling knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.”
And she understands many of the issues and struggles of students in the region: "I immigrated to Lawrence at the age of 7 with my family. I attended LPS’s and graduated from Lawrence HS. As an immigrant, I had to learn on my own many things since my parents did not speak the language. I missed out on many opportunities as a youth because I was not aware of the many resources out there. I ultimately came across the Lawrence YMCA where I participated in Youth and Government – later joining the Student Government Association in Bridgewater for one term. I came to take AP classes my senior year in HS because the counselor I had only approached a certain group – I basically had to demand my counselor to sign off my 2 classes."
Corina has been part of the MMVWB team for 13 years. In her previous role as Senior Monitoring and Program Manager, Corina helped trainees build persistence, resiliency, and achieve long term goals. As Deputy Director, Corina is able to help on a broader level by fostering relationships with local employers who are looking to hire qualified workers, convening education stakeholders to develop training opportunities that meet employer demand, and providing customers with quality training. All with the aim to help youth get the right education to secure gainful employment and achieve sustainable self-sufficiency.
Corina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Science from Bridgewater State College and a Master’s Degree in Management and Productivity from the University APEC in the Dominican Republic.
Corina still lives in Lawrence with her husband, 2 children and 2 Boston Terriers. When she’s not at work, you can find her enjoying quiet time sitting on her deck with a cup of coffee, listening to the birds and cuddling her fur babies.
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We're Here
and ready to provide you with in-person or virtual Connecting Activities.
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How are you taking care of yourself?
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949.
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Career Development Education (CDE) = Awareness + Exploration + Immersion |
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MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board
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Connecting Activities is a program funded by the MA Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education.
It’s operated by the MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board.
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