WFWE’s “Living Library” featured at P.O.P. 2012
By Vanessa Iaquinta, Workforce WindsorEssex Mediaplex Intern
On Feb. 9, high school students from across Windsor and Essex County learned of the endless local employment opportunities available to them when they enter the workforce.
The Power of Your Potential is an event hosted by associate professor, Dr. Geri Salinitri, and students from the University of Windsor faculty of education. Approximately 200 from Grades 10 and 11 attended the event, which was held at the university’s Leonard and Dorothy Neal Education Building. According to Salinitri the goal for the event is to promote confidence in the students.
“The purpose of the conference this year as it has been in the past is to work with students to help build skills for resumés and interviews,” said Salinitri. “As well, to explore the opportunities we have here in Windsor and Essex County.”
Workforce WindsorEssex partnered with the Faculty of Education to help students understand the rapidly changing economy. Also, said Veronica Samek, director of communications for Workforce WindsorEssex, the event was a great showcase for the various job opportunities the Windsor area has to offer.
During the five-hour event, Workforce WindsorEssex hosted a workshop showcasing young talent in promising sectors and occupations. The individuals involved in this particular workshop discussed working in Windsor and Essex County and shared the reasons they decided to stay and work in the local area. Professionals from medical, communications and renewable energy career fields participated in the “Living Library” workshop.
“We’ve been through different workshops to help us understand how we can improve ourselves,” said Tyler Matyi, a Grade 11 student at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School.
“Talking to different people about their lives and how they got to this point in their careers has stuck with me the most.”
The conference was a success according to Salinitri, who said every year it seems to get better. In order to enhance the conference the students complete surveys which helps the faculty improve the event for the following years.
“Workforce WindsorEssex and Service Canada have come on board which has given this program a level of community engagement,” Salinitri said. “For next year we are looking for opportunities from the community to come in and engage with us to improve this event even more.”
WFWE would like to thank everyone who participated in the conference, our "books" and all the volunteers who donated their time and expertise to making this day successful:
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County
The Mayor's Youth Advisory Council
National Defence and the Canaidan Forces
Windsor Essex Community Health Centre and the Kids Alliance program
The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation
Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies
The United Way Windsor-Essex County
The University of Windsor, The Faculty of Education, Centre for Career Education
YMCA of Windsor and Essex County
Youth & Family Resource Network of Essex County
If you would like to get involved with next year's event, please contact us.
More Media Coverage:
- "Power of Your Potential: Assisiting youth in career development" by Jonathon Liedtke, OurWindsor.ca, Posted: Feb. 13
- "Off of the page" by Stephen Hargreaves, The Lance, Posted: Feb. 15
BACKGROUNDER:
In June 2010, WFWE released their Youth Labour Market Plan - looking at how our region's youth received labour market information.
"The vision of the Youth Labour Market Information Plan is to ensure that youth are getting accurate and timely information about local labour market conditions on emerging occupations."
As a follow-up to this study, WFWE invited several local youth service providers to act as mentors in the organization of a youth-led conference.
A youth-led strategic committee was formed with students young people from W.F. Herman Secondary School and volunteers from the Teen Health Centre's Kids Alliance program and New Beginnings program.
In 2011, we partnered with the Faculty of Education's Leadership Experience for Academic Directions (L.E.A.D.) program, the youth-led committee organized unique ways of presenting the day's material to attending students in a meaningful way.
WATCH LAST YEAR'S WRAP-UP VIDEO
For more featured videos, check out Down the Career Path in Windsor-Essex with:
Short URL: http://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/?p=4256
