Schools from Orleans urged to participate in GLOW career exploration event
BATAVIA – An initiative to connect students in all four GLOW counties with companies and careers within their reach is moving forward, and organizers are hoping that Orleans County schools and businesses can take part.
GLOW With Your Hands is scheduled for September 24 and the project has already signed on 26 schools for the hands-on program across Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties; even reaching to Royalton-Hartland in Niagara County.
A March 8 deadline for schools to confirm an interest and appoint a district liaison for the program is nearing without any Orleans County districts registered, Genesee County Business Education Alliance Director Karyn Winters said.
“GLOW With Your Hands is open to all of the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming schools, and we’re hoping to have at least 40 kids from every district,” Winters said. “Our event is based on an event which has run successfully for 12 years in the Finger Lakes region … it is a hands-on career day where kids get the chance to experience careers like building trades, masonry, advanced manufacturing, and agricultural careers.”
Business-education alliances, along with the GLOW region’s economic development organizations have partnered to plan out the event. They have secured over $20,000 in private sponsorships and are aiming to cover the whole cost of a school’s participation, including transportation to the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia, lunch and a commemorative hard hat for each student.
Chris Suozzi, the Genesee County Economic Development Center’s vice present of business and workforce development said companies are excited to meet with hundreds of students that are entering 8th to 12th grade in 2019; and to build an annual event that pulls together the potential workforce talent and opportunities of all four counties.
“Across the GLOW Region, companies are eager to connect with students and give them a hands-on feel for the career pathways available in our communities,” Suozzi said. “At GLOW With Your Hands, there will be dozens of opportunities for kids to try on career paths that are in high-demand.”
Winters is asking districts to contact her at kwinters@geneseeny.com or (585) 343-7440 to confirm their interest and get started.
