Partner Spotlight
In our mission to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for every child in our community, we are privileged to spotlight one of our dedicated partners: Jenn Robinson.
As Community Engagement Coordinator at the School District of Lee County Jenn Robinson works to enhance student achievement by educating and engaging stakeholders about strategic initiatives and events which support the district’s mission and vision. “Through this role, I lead outreach initiatives to foster deeper connections with our community. This includes planning and executing strategies to increase community engagement in education. As a result of these efforts, we build a stronger, more engaged community that supports the educational success of all students.”
Jenn is an invaluable asset to FutureMakers Coalition, she convenes the Lee County Action Team. This team includes partners across Lee County working to improve outcomes for students at various stages of their education journey, from kindergarten readiness to high school graduation. Her expertise in intervention, particularly in the context of reading initiatives, has made an impact, as evidenced by the success of our volunteer reading initiative pilot project at Spring Creek Elementary School. Her long and extensive background as an educator, helped to make this pilot project a success. Jenn is the proud parent of two students and wife to a long-time educator with the district. Her background includes program development, professional development training, grant writing and grant development. She’s active in the community, having served as a coach, mentor, committee chair, advisory committee member, and Board of Directors member for various non-profit organizations in our area.
We Are Hiring
FutureMakers Coalition has a bold goal – to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce. If we are going to get there, we must go beyond what we are already doing.
We must revolutionize the way we work together to change our
education and workforce systems.
If you are passionate about social impact, equity, changing lives, and are ready to be part of the change we need to create a more sustainable future, consider joining the team providing backbone support to the collaborative network of FutureMakers!
Coalition Coordinator Position – Job Description
Employer Recruitment Specialist – Job Description
Opportunities to Engage
Quarterly Regional Action Team Meetings:
- Aspiration & Preparation Team – July 16, 12:00-1:30 pm Register
- Access & Entry Team – July 25, 1:00-2:30 pm Register
- Persistence & Completion Team – Aug 12, 3:30-5:00 pm Register
- Data & Reporting Team – Aug 13, 3:00-4:30 pm Register
- Resilience & Diversification Team – Aug 28, 3:00-4:30 pm Register
FutureMakers Initiatives:
- Power of Clarity: Logic Models- June 28, 9:00-1:00 pm Register
- Healthcare Systems Alignment Team – Aug 1, 9:00 – 10:00 am Register
FREE Summer In-person Trainings:
- Adult Mental Health & First Aid Training – July 12, 9:30-4:00 pm Register
- Are You Biased? Applying an Equity Lens to Talent Acquisition – July 24, 9:00 – 11:00 am Register
- Retain & Reign: Employing Equitable Retention Strategies – July 24, 12:30 – 2:30 pm Register
- Generate Success: Breaking Down Age Barriers in the Workplace – July 24, 3:00 – 5:00 pm Register
FREE Summer Virtual Trainings:
- Managing Toxic Stress and Avoiding Burn-Out – June 26, 11:30 – 1:30 pm Register
- The Importance of Building Healthy Boundaries – July 11, 2:30 – 4:00 pm Register
- Understanding Trauma Across Time: Intergenerational and Systems’ Trauma – July 25, 2:30 – 4:00 pm Register
- The Power of Connection: Why “Community Care” Matters So Much – Aug 1, 2:30 – 4:00 pm Register
- Trauma Responsive Supervision & Management – July 2, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Register
Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline
Partnership for Sustainability RFP Round 3 Opens August 15th!
The Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline is actively seeking employer partners in Southwest Florida who are enthusiastic about sustaining workforce development initiatives in four key sectors for both new and existing employees: PK-12 Education, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Healthcare through participation in the Equitable Jobs Pipeline. Ideally, proposals will include a well-defined strategy for the employer to gradually assume the cost of training, with the goal of achieving sustainability by December 2025. Total amount to be awarded: $3,800,000.00 Proposals will be accepted between January 15, 2024 through October 31st 2024, with awards going out in April, July and December. If you need help, we will work with you to determine the best education partner and a plan to assume the cost of training over time. Read more.
FutureMakers Navigators
Are you looking for work this summer? Our Navigator team wants to help you connect to employers in the region. Sign up for a Navigator if you would like assistance with preparing your resume, practicing your interview skills, and connecting to employers. Don’t miss out on these upcoming hiring event hosted by CareerSource Southwest Florida:
Saint Matthew’s House Hiring Event
Friday, June 28th from 10:00am-2:00pm located at Saint Matthew’s House – 4330 Tamiami Trail East Naples, Florida 34112
Are you interested in going back to school to complete your degree? The Fall 2024 semester is right around the corner and it’s a great time to get the pre-enrollment steps complete. You are not alone- your FutureMakers Navigator can walk alongside you to help.
Not sure where to start? A FutureMakers Navigator can help you learn about the most in-demand jobs in our region with pathways to upskill!
Sign up for a free Navigator at futuremakerscoaltion.com/navigators.
Our Navigators have been busy learning about helpful resources and opportunities in the region. Here’s some of what we found:
Integrated Education Training Career Pathways
Collier County Adult Education has opened registration for career pathway programs in multiple sectors to help folks get started training for in-demand careers including healthcare, education, and manufacturing! Check out their IET Career Pathways Website for more information. Virtual options available!
Florida SouthWestern State College Saturday Scholars Program
FSW’s Saturday Scholars program is specifically designed for first-time in college students to complete their Associate of Arts degree on Saturdays for two consecutive years from 8:30am-2:30pm. Learn more here: www.FSW.edu/saturdayscholars.
Free Career Accelerator Programs for SWFL Residents at Florida Gulf Coast University
30+ micro-credentials, digital badges, and certifications are available free for residents of Southwest Florida. Learn more about these amazing opportunities made possible by the Lee County Economic Development Office and the Economic Development Authority Reskill at FGCU.
Stop by and meet a Navigator at one of these upcoming events:
Collaboratory Night Market – Friday, June 21st from 6:00-9:00pm at 2031 Jackson Street Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Fort Myers Community Job Fair Hosted by Better Together – Thursday, June 27th from 11:00am-2:00pm at Christ Community Church 4050 Colonial Boulevard Fort Myers, Florida 33966
What We Are Reading
Help is available– but many college students don’t ask for it. Read on for solutions.
Not long ago, a college student said in a focus group that they’d rather fail a class than ask a professor for help. Many students in the group nodded in agreement—and they have plenty of company among students who say they’re reluctant to seek help, often until it’s too late. This real-life example surfaced recently when Lumina Foundation and Persistence Plus met with more than 200 advisors, staff, and college administrators worldwide to examine barriers to seeking guidance and behavioral science strategies to nudge struggling students to explore resources proactively.
Students pitch their passion projects
On Tuesday night in a hearing room on Capitol Hill, 12 teams of community college students anxiously stood next to posters that outlined innovations they’d been working on for months. The students, along with faculty mentors, were in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual Community College Innovation Challenge. The program, led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), encourages student teams to develop innovative, STEM-based solutions for real-world problems.
What We Are Listening To
Employer-provided education benefits are keeping workers from moving on:
In this episode of Work in Progress, I’m joined by Bijal Shah, Guild‘s new CEO, to discuss how big companies are helping their employees find their next career step inside or outside the company through education benefits. And, we look a new Guild partnership that’s helping Olympians find their next career beyond sports. Shah is new to the job of CEO, assuming it full-time in April after 34-year-old CEO and co-founder Rachel Romer stepped down to focus on her continued recovery from a stroke she suffered last summer. The number of employer partners has grown over the years and now includes businesses like Chipotle, Discover, Hilton, and Target. With growth, Guild has had to deal with some of its own structural changes. In May, the company cut a quarter of its own workforce.
