NCCPA Newsletter October 2017 Education Spotlight

Mendocino Lake Adult and Career Education (MLACE) and the Career Ladders Project (CLP) held a Curriculum to Career Summit in Ukiah on October 6th. The goal of the summit was to map pathways from adult education level programs like ESL and HiSET or GED classes, through Career Technical Education (CTE) certificate programs and into the workforce. The event focused on three industry sectors: Medical, Business, and Construction and Trades. Industry employers from these sectors participated in a workforce connection session to help inform the pathways mapping process.

The Summit was funded by MLACE via the Adult Education Block Grant (AEBG), and the NCCPA. NCCPA funded the CLP facilitators that led the mapping effort at the summit. This effort is a fantastic example of how agencies can leverage resources to work together towards common goals. MLACE is focused on created seamless and integrated pathways for our students from Adult Education programs to a better job and better life – a very similar mission to that of the NCCPA. Both agencies are looking to use these pathway maps as a means to help students achieve better educational and career outcomes.

Traditionally, NCCPA has focused on pathways mapping from K-12 high schools, but this effort created a template for integrating Adult Education into pathway maps that are being developed across the state. The summit drew over 100 participants including Adult Education and CTE faculty and administrators, support services providers from WIOA funded agencies, employers and community college faculty and staff. Participant response has been overwhelmingly positive. However, the real work lies ahead. Pathway mapping is a starting point to help us identify gaps, create priorities and ultimately do the work that is needed to help our students move from wherever their entry point is to a better job and a better life.

Judith Harwood

AEBG Program Manager, Mendocino College