A partnership between Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC), several school districts and employers from Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine counties have received a $15,000 LYFT Career Pathways Innovation award that will increase the number of schools in the region to ensure that the unmet career counseling and work-based learning needs in the region are being met. PIC offers a full continuum of our Youth Career Connector services.

PIC has fully adopted the 3 E’s Roadmap into its programming: Career Exploration, Career Exposure, and Career Experience (3E). Career interest assessments are offered as part of the Career Exploration activities that the PIC offers. We can offer the World of Work Interest (WOWI) assessments and an online platform called YouScience (we are in the process of renewing our license). We can also provide one-on-one assessment interpretation. If a student is interested in credentialed skilled training, we will meet one-on-one with the student to do a more thorough assessment of interests, aptitude, work experience and basic skills to ensure the student is a good candidate for the training.

PIC will increase the depth of experiences, including meaningful job shadows, internships, work experiences, and employment (as appropriate) as well as highlighting youth summer internships, summer employment, and post high school employer offerings that offer work and learn options and jobs.

New this year is that this project will be implementing the Reality Check Event in at least one school. Reality Check is an event where students get a taste of what it is like to have a career, a salary and a checkbook.

Every event, every speaker, and every experience has the ability to influence and impact a student’s career and/or education decision. It opens up a world of opportunities and professional relationships that many students didn’t even know possible. These decisions then can ultimately impact the local labor market and overall economic health of southwest Minnesota.

For more information contact Carrie Bendix at the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council.