An African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In this issue of Strictly Business we introduce you to some of the organizations and people in our village who are working to raise and educate North Country children.
CFES Brilliant Pathways, a non-profit created to level the educational playing field for children from low income, rural families, was the brain child of Rick Dalton. Begun in 1991, Pathways has helped more than 100,000 underserved youth throughout the U.S. and continues to reach new communities. Make sure to read teacher Karen Bouvier’s inspiring article about Rick and Karen Dalton and learn about the impact they are having on our community and the country.
A new program called RAMP (Ready, Able, Marketable, Proven) by Coryer Staffing is designed to meet the needs of our area’s growing industrial sector and at the same time serve new high school graduates who are not college bound and are searching for opportunities. This innovative plan has attracted the attention of industry for its creative approach and the quality of the people who are providing the career counseling.
The YMCA has been a leader in child care in the area for generations. Whether it is its nursery school, after school programs, swimming lessons, or outdoor education at Camp Jericho it’s likely you or your children have benefited from the Y’s commitment to education for all ages.
At a time when there is increased emphasis on science and math skills, the Adirondack Engineers Club offers students an opportunity for learning and fun. Membership is available for students from age 9 – high school seniors. Congratulations to the club for its impressive performance at the FIRST Tech Challenge in Detroit in May.
Don’t miss our article about the JCEO’s Backpack project which is designed to address the problem of childhood hunger in our area. The efforts of the Community Action Angels, along with the generosity of people and organizations makes a difference. Read about how you can help.
North Country THRIVE is an educational effort designed to improve kindergarten readiness, create a regional cradle to career database and support the North Country AmericaCorps VISTA project which provides more than 20,000 hours of professional services for our region.
And then there is this month’s Insight feature, Ray DiPasquale, president of Clinton Community College. Ray started out in Physical Education and Recreation but ended up in higher education. How he uses the coaching skills he learned early on to motivate his constituencies is fascinating.
Wrapping up this issue of SB is Chamber president Garry Douglas’ assessment of the successful summer tourism season and the impact it has had on our regional economy.
Education is the key to the future for our children and also for the economic well being of the North Country. Without workers with the skills the 21st century workplace requires we will struggle to maintain the momentum that has been building here over the past two decades. Let’s drill down on what will be required for success and then look to our educators to take that lead.