Weaving a community fabric: Betr Project seeks to build a better work force for the future

By April Peregoy

Holyoke Enterprise October 22, 2008

Since the dawn of the 21st century, a new trend has been sweeping
through the nation that has the business world concerned for its
future: a growing number of students are exiting the educational
pipeline without the skills needed to be successful in business. Areas
of particular concern are science, technology, math and engineering
skills.
To counteract this trend, Colorado Workforce Centers and the Colorado
Department of Labor and Employment are funding a state project called
the Business and Education Talent Readiness Project, or BETR Project. 

Large amounts of statistical data show there are expanding segments of
the young American population with low levels of education. According
to the BETR Project website, "This combined with the exiting from the
workforce through retirement of the most highly educated generation in
U.S. history, the Baby Boomers, is expected to cause a projected drop
in the average education levels of the U.S. workforce in the coming
decades under the current scenario."
At the same time, the expansion of a global economy allows business an
increased opportunity to hire workers overseas. As other developed
nations continue to improve the education of their workforces, the U.S.
will increasingly find itself at a competitive disadvantage.
The BETR Project tries to bring education, government, families and
businesses together to assist in overcoming these challenges. By
actively developing partnerships with businesses from all over the
state, the project offers several programs to teachers, parents and
professionals in an attempt to increase awareness in communities of the
problem.
One of these programs is Tuesday Tours. Every third Tuesday of the
month from October until April, teachers and parents can sign up for
tours of businesses throughout the state. The tours start at 3:30 p.m.
and end at 5 p.m.
The goal is for teachers and parents to understand the tasks workers
are expected to perform in various types of businesses. Through the
tours, teachers can identify the skills employees need; understand how
math, science, communication, social skils and technical applications
are used in business; and establish ongoing communication between
students and businesses.
"Teachers can see the real business world, find out what skills are
used and then pass those skills on to their students," said program
director Randy Dalton. "When students ask them why they need to learn
something like math, the teachers will have a specific answer."
And the program is not just available to high school teachers, added
Dalton. It is open to any teacher of every grade, from preschool to
post-secondary education. Those who register can even earn graduate
credits through Colorado State University.
Participating in the program are several Holyoke businesses including
Grainland Co-op, Computers Etc., Highline Electric, MV Equipment and
Melissa Memorial Hospital. In fact, MMH was the first business in the
northeast region to sponsor a tour, which took place Tuesday, Oct. 21.
"When I signed on to do this, I didn't realize how many other
businesses in the area were doing it as well," said MMH administrator
John Ayoub. "I think it's great we're all doing it and that the area is
so well-represented. It will be good for the community."
Ayoub said what convinced him to sign up for the program are the
benefits to the community as well as the hospital. Educating teachers
about the value of skills in the business world will allow them to give
real-world examples to their students.
This in turn, he continued, will hopefully help students by keeping
them in school. The community will benefit as well by showing teachers
and students more local opportunities that are available-including
those at the hospital.
"We're always looking for good help," he added.
At the time the article was written, Ayoub said he was expecting three
participants at the tour, but added it could be more as people can
register for it right up until the time it starts.
MV Equipment has even gone a step farther by participating in the
Virtual Business Tours Program. By going to The BETR Project's website
at www.betrproject.org, users can take a virtual tour of the company
and meet the people who run it.
The videos allow students to find out what skills and education are
needed to work at each specific company. And, according to Dalton, it
also opens their eyes to business opportunities that are available in
rural communities. "Hopefully they'll realize you don't have to go to a
big city like Denver to get work," he said.
Also available on the website are PREP videos that examine teens and
adults, and show how they overcame major obstacles in their lives to
become successful in school or work. The emphasis of the videos is on
developing the resiliency and determination needed to overcome life's
challenges.
An electronic monitoring community exists on the website as well to
connect parents, teachers and students to workforce members and subject
matter experts.
Even though the first tour has already taken place, Dalton noted it is
not too late for teachers or parents to register for the Tuesday Tours
program. For more information on it and the other programs offered by
The BETR Project, visit the website www.betrproject.org.