The local branch of the Cooperative Educational Service Agency is looking to raise money to help local students get involved in the workforce.
CESA 7, which covers Eastern Wisconsin from Sheboygan County to Door County, along with Brown, Calumet, and portions of Fond du Lac and Outagamie Counties, is participating in the Give Big Green Bay fundraising drive.
David Gordon, CESA7’s Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator, tells SeehaferNews.com that any money raised in the drive will go toward the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Consortium (NEWYA), which helps get local students to get a head start in a field they are interested in being a part of.
Youth apprenticeship programs have been growing drastically throughout the state, especially in Eastern Wisconsin.
“There are approximately 10,000 youth apprenticeship students statewide, but 2000 of those come from just northeast Wisconsin,” he revealed. “(There has been a) significant an amount of increase in youth apprenticeship participation in the past few years.”
This program not only allows these students to get involved in the workforce, but it also helps them learn about the hiring process.
“Some of the students that benefit from this program the most are students that need some additional support and having someone to sit right next to them,” Gordon explained. “Complete applications, do resumes, you know, connect with different employers really makes all of the difference.”
Stacie Opahle, the Executive Director of Learning Services at CESA 7, also noted that this program gives these students an opportunity to try their hand at a career path without going into debt.
“We have stories about students who thought they wanted to be a nurse and went to be a senior and soon found out they don’t want to be a nurse,” she noted. “I’d rather have that kid find out as a junior in high school than start nursing school. And now you’re in debt, and you realize it’s not something they’re passionate about.”
The schools involved are not charged for this service, so all of the money for the program has typically come from grant money.
However, that money is running out. So, CESA 7 is asking the public to support the youth of our area by giving as a part of the annual Give Big Green Bay program.
While you could donate to them directly, donating through Give Big Green Bay allows each dollar to be doubled thanks to matching grants from corporate donors.
Give Big Green Bay runs for 24 hours starting at noon on Wednesday (February 19th).
You can make your donation by visiting GiveBigGreenBay.org, and searching for NEWYA.
You can also see the other area non-profits looking to support the area.
