That man’s name was Dale Williams and throughout his 20-minute talk he outlined how his town went from having high unemployment, youth suicides and a prevailing attitude among young people that “Otorohanga sucks,” to being a model of youth employment copied all over the world.
Including, if Carolyn Black has her way, in Kensington.
Black, a school counsellor at Kensington Intermediate Senior High, was inspired in part by Williams’ TED Talk to call a meeting of the community’s businesses to discuss his ideas as well as Canadian-based options for youth engagement and employment.
Black’s meeting, held Nov. 26 at KISH, attracted about half a dozen local business leaders and there was interest from more who couldn’t attend.
“I said it can be a simple evening, it doesn’t have to be big and elaborate, lets just see if we can collect some data and move forward from there. Find out what the needs are and then share them with the businesses and perhaps how we can help those partnerships form,” said Black.
The idea, she added, is to give young people work and life experience while also providing an asset to local businesses, most of which are small and for whom resources might be stretched.
During the meeting, Black handed out a short questionnaire asking the business leaders some preliminary questions and broke everyone up into groups to discuss how to better integrate young people into the workforce.
They also heard from the administrator of the school’s co-op program, which already sends students on work placements.
Jessica Caseley, with the Kensington Chamber of Commerce, attended the meeting and was encouraged by the ideas she heard being pitched.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for business,” said Caseley.
“In the short term it gives them an opportunity to maybe do some things that they wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to do without extra staff.
“And in the long term, the more we encourage our students to get involved in the community, maybe there’s a greater chance that they’re going to come back live here, have their family here and spend their money here,” she added.
Anyone who might have questions for Black about this project or who might like to participate can contact her at KISH at 902-836-8901 and [email protected].
“This is jus the first step in what could be a really great relationship between the local businesses and our school,” she said.
@JournalPMacLean
That man’s name was Dale Williams and throughout his 20-minute talk he outlined how his town went from having high unemployment, youth suicides and a prevailing attitude among young people that “Otorohanga sucks,” to being a model of youth employment copied all over the world.
Including, if Carolyn Black has her way, in Kensington.
Black, a school counsellor at Kensington Intermediate Senior High, was inspired in part by Williams’ TED Talk to call a meeting of the community’s businesses to discuss his ideas as well as Canadian-based options for youth engagement and employment.
Black’s meeting, held Nov. 26 at KISH, attracted about half a dozen local business leaders and there was interest from more who couldn’t attend.
“I said it can be a simple evening, it doesn’t have to be big and elaborate, lets just see if we can collect some data and move forward from there. Find out what the needs are and then share them with the businesses and perhaps how we can help those partnerships form,” said Black.
The idea, she added, is to give young people work and life experience while also providing an asset to local businesses, most of which are small and for whom resources might be stretched.
During the meeting, Black handed out a short questionnaire asking the business leaders some preliminary questions and broke everyone up into groups to discuss how to better integrate young people into the workforce.
They also heard from the administrator of the school’s co-op program, which already sends students on work placements.
Jessica Caseley, with the Kensington Chamber of Commerce, attended the meeting and was encouraged by the ideas she heard being pitched.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for business,” said Caseley.
“In the short term it gives them an opportunity to maybe do some things that they wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to do without extra staff.
“And in the long term, the more we encourage our students to get involved in the community, maybe there’s a greater chance that they’re going to come back live here, have their family here and spend their money here,” she added.
Anyone who might have questions for Black about this project or who might like to participate can contact her at KISH at 902-836-8901 and [email protected].
“This is jus the first step in what could be a really great relationship between the local businesses and our school,” she said.
@JournalPMacLean
