Kansas City Professionals are making a difference

PREP-KC and its partner school districts thank the Kansas City business and industry partners who volunteered their time, shared their stories and inspired Kansas City's high school students.
 

During the 2009-2010 school year, PREP-KC, the Kansas City Missouri School District (KCMSD), Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) and the Grandview School District collaborated to bring together more than 245 Kansas City professionals, from 145 organizations, to provide nearly 7,200 individual career exploration experiences for local high school students. These experiences, which included classroom speakers, career fairs, and workplace tours, are changing lives and preparing Kansas City's future workforce for successful careers.

Through work-based-learning experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of high-growth, high-demand career pathways—and the post-secondary education necessary to succeed in various careers. Each of these engaging experiences provides students with multiple opportunities to meet professionals from a variety of fields.

The student feedback from these opportunities has been overwhelmingly positive. Whether it was a group discussion or a one-on-one hands-on visit, each experience touched the students who participated, and inspired them to work harder in school and plan for their dream careers. That kind of inspiration is making a difference in the lives of Kansas City's urban youth.

How local professionals are making a difference

After a career exploration event at Harmon High School, where students met with more than a dozen professionals in a variety of fields, one 9th grader said, "I'm going to focus more on my school work so I can become someone in this life."

PREP-KC's initiatives in this area also include customized college-planning experiences. For example, when 160 students visited UMKC for the College for a Day event, they met with professors, attended classes and learned about the many scholarships available. After the day was over, one student from Southwest Early College Campus said, "I learned to work harder and to keep my eyes on the prize. Because there is nothing greater than achieving your dreams."

Here are just a few more ways that students are exposed to transformative experiences, thanks to the leadership from Kansas City's regional school district partners (KCKPS, KCMSD and Grandview), local businesses and post-secondary institutions.
  • On May 11th, the Pathways to Health Careers event provided interactive, hands-on booths where students talked with a range of health care professionals.
  • During the 2010 National Job Shadow Day, professionals from Brockton Creative Group, The Kansas City Star, Vedros Photography BalancePoint, and others gave students a behind-the-scenes look at life in their offices.
  • For four months, the entire staff at Kendal King visited Harmon High School students, providing them with one-on-one lessons in design, layout and marketing.
  • On Jan. 13th, Lawrence Moore, Newscast Director at KMBC Channel 9 News, visited with students from Grandview High School to talk about careers in broadcast journalism.
  • The veterinarians and vet techs at Wayside Waifs hosted a student from The Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts on Feb. 19, giving her a first-hand experience with her planned future career as a vet tech.

PREP-KC appreciates the school districts and business partners who made each of these experiences possible. PREP-KC is committed to continuing to grow these college and career exploration experiences for the students in Kansas City's urban school districts.