Our December NCWorks Career Pathways Champions meeting was a great brainstorming session. Our icebreaker was an opportunity for each participant to share one “ground rule” for our discussion. Below are the awesome rules that were shared and observed during our meeting.

-The first rule of Career pathways planning meeting is that there is no career pathways planning meeting (this reference to the movie “Fight Club” was actually the last rule shared 😊)

-Don’t make fun of a “crazy” or “outlandish” idea – Be Open/Be open minded

-No interrupting while others are talking

-Be kind to one another

-There are no stupid questions/There are no dumb questions

-Use your inside voice

-Be respectful

-Agree to disagree

-Be aware of the number of times you speak and how many times others have spoken

-Listen

 

In the first hour, we discussed Guidance & Direction for Job Seekers (GADJ). We began with a brief overview of how GADJ came about, and why. Basically, the GADJ committee wanted to be able to offer teachers in K12 and higher ed, as well as afterschool centers, career centers and other community agencies an easy to use tool for promoting career development.

Next we looked through the GADJ notebooks and randomly chose a Champion to lead us in a lesson plan. Ann Williams (Martin County NCWorks) did a great job of leading us through Developing Skills: Communication, Following Directions.  Champions noted the ease of use with the provided format.  Then the brainstorming began!

First, we shared ideas on how we might incorporate GADJ lesson plans into Centers and through outreach from the centers.

• Provide workshops for jobseekers in the centers
• Use externally with partners (i.e. Center staff can present lesson plan in high school classroom or at a library)
• Use individually with customers
• Include in WIOA orientation agenda
• Share with businesses to show them we are working on soft skills

 

Next we discussed what obstacles might arise when implementing GADJ.

 

• Getting jobseekers to attend workshops
• Finding time in center staff schedules to incorporate
• Creating “buy-in” from the staff for using the tool
• Currently only in hardcopy format
• Transportation

Finally, we talked about next steps might be towards implementing GADJ in the centers and externally.

 

• Hold orientation at more centers, and include GADJ (will need permission)
• Connect partners who might find GADJ useful with Brandi
• Evaluate use of GADJ once implemented (from center staff and participants)
• Build trainings to be delivered at staff meetings, so all staff can become aware
• Provide incentives for workshop attendance (gas cards, food, etc.)
• Provide ideas for new lesson plans to be written as part of the expansion (Region Q has a grant to expand offerings and create website)

 

During the second half of our brainstorming session, we began our discussion on building “Opportunity Pathways” for adults, which falls in line with our statewide goals through MyFutureNC. we really need to establish more concrete “opportunity pathways” for adult learners. This aligns with the new myFutureNC initiative focusing on credential attainment for ages 25-54.  We decided to tackle this project with the Champions this year based on Feedback from some of our pathway partners.

“This team is best suited to begin work on approaching pathways from this vantage point. Career advising and ties from our pathway work to projects like RAMP East are MUCH needed. The “pitch” of promoting it. Connecting people from where they are to where they want to be. Helping them truly MAP out that path- past the point of initial employment.”

To begin our discussion, we each shared programs, tools and other “Pathway connectors” that can be resources and opportunities for jobseekers who are building a pathway.

-HRD Classes                                      – WIOA

-RAMP East                                         -Job Corps

-Traitify                                                -GED Programs

-Reality Check                                    -My Next Move

-Solar Farms Construction            -Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI)

-LMI                                                       -Work First

-Career Ladders                                -GADJ

-NCWO Training                                -MySkills/MyFuture

-Veterans Services                          -Reentry Services

 

Finally, we discussed how we might incorporate connectors and programs into opportunity pathways for customers.

• Provide training for staff at staff meetings, potentially led by Champions once pathway idea is built
• Create a visual guide for certain pathway starting points based on common customer situations (i.e. domestic violence victims, homeless, former offenders, etc.)
• Think outside the box by utilizing partners resource lists and connections

We ran out of time to thoroughly discuss next steps, but we agreed before adjourning that it would be a good idea for Champions to consider this idea while working with customers over the next few months, and talk with other center staff about ideas they might have. Champions were encouraged to email Brandi with any new ideas.

The next Champions meeting is scheduled for April. At that meeting, Champions will discuss ideas for creating “opportunity pathways” and how to best incorporate resources for helping job seekers map out their paths.

A big THANK YOU to all the Champions and other participants for “playing along” and being randomly chosen to provide support during the brainstorming session.  It was a fun and productive meeting!