Mendocino Lake Adult and Career Education (MLACE) and CLP held a Curriculum to Career Summit in Ukiah on Oct. 6 with the goal of mapping pathways from adult education programs like ESL and HiSET or GED through Career Technical Education certificate programs and into the workforce.
The event focused on three industries: medical, business, and construction and trades. Employers from these sectors participated in a workforce connection session to help inform the mapping process.
The summit was funded by MLACE using an Adult Education Block Grant (AEBG), and NCCPA funded CLP facilitation of the summit. This effort is a fantastic example of how agencies can leverage resources to work together towards common goals. MLACE is focused on created seamless and integrated pathways for our students from Adult Education programs to a better job and better life – a very similar mission to that of the NCCPA. Both agencies are looking to use these pathway maps as a means to help students achieve better educational and career outcomes.
Traditionally, NCCPA has focused on pathways mapping from K-12 high schools, but this effort created a template for integrating Adult Education into pathway maps that are being developed across the state. The summit drew over 100 participants including Adult Education and CTE faculty and administrators, support services providers from WIOA funded agencies, employers, and community college faculty and staff. Participant response has been overwhelmingly positive. However, the real work lies ahead. Pathway mapping is a starting point to help us identify gaps, create priorities, and ultimately do the work that is needed to help our students move from wherever their entry point is to a better job and a better life.
Judith Harwood
AEBG Program Manager, Mendocino College