A lot can happen in a few short months!
In recent years, Erie Together’s been fortunate to lead two impactful local initiatives: the Erie County Career Pathways Alliance (ECCPA) and the Domestic Violence Action Alliance (DVAA). Through both efforts, stakeholders are working together to improve local systems, provide opportunities and resources, and enhance people’s lives. Each group has made notable progress, and here are some of the latest highlights!
Over the last three months, the ECCPA held FIVE “Career Pathways Information Sessions” for students in grades 8-12 and their parents. These sessions featured exceptional panelists representing many different industries, and included an overview of employer needs, in-demand skills and the local job market from Northwest PA Job Connect. The speakers were tremendous as they shared their insight, expertise, and advice on local careers. The videos have been posted to our Career Street YouTube channel here.
Speaking of Career Street, we have grown our library of virtual career exploration experiences exponentially by working with local employers, professionals, and partners like the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5 and Penn State Behrend, among others. These experiences are now available for local school districts and students through Career Street’s website, and you can see a few of the newly added experiences here.
The ECCPA’s work has been recognized as a model by others across the state and beyond and was recently showcased in a meeting facilitated by the National Center for College & Career Transitions. Also, because of the ECCPA’s work, Erie Together’s director and ECCPA facilitator has been named to the Career Ready PA Coalition Steering Committee led by the PA Department of Education. If you want to see an example of just one piece of the ECCPA’s work – the comprehensive efforts of our Science and Health Industry Advisory Group – check out this recent report we submitted to one of our funders, Northwest PA Job Connect.
And now, it’s time to switch gears to the DVAA. This remarkable group of collaborators is nearly finished developing its strategy which includes specific recommendations to reduce domestic violence in Erie County. These recommendations were informed by stakeholders’ professional experience, evidence-based best practices from across the country, and a local focus group of domestic violence survivors. The DVAA will next finalize its recommendations and move into the implementation phase. Costs to develop this comprehensive strategy have been underwritten by the Erie County District Attorney’s office.
Finally, we’d like to thank Erie Insurance for their recent grant awards to Erie Together and Career Street to help support our career exploration, pathways development, youth civic engagement and general community convening efforts. We are so grateful.