CAREER DEVELOPMENT

The following programs and activities are coordinated by the Shoals Chamber of Commerce's Education / Workforce Development department and are available to students in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. 
If you are a business person and would like to volunteer yourself, your business or your employees for any of the programs below,

• help inform YOUR FUTURE WORKFORCE (and their teachers) of what you will expect from them in a few short years, 
• make a tax-deductible donation for the Chamber's education / workforce development programs or 
• be added to our business & community e-mail list and receive notices and information when schools, educators & or students are interested in participating in the programs listed below, 

please contact the Chamber (stephs@shoalschamber.com) with your name, business, contact information and any particular program interests which you have.

If you are a Shoals area educator and would like to be added to our educator e-mail list and receive notices and information about the programs listed below, grants, free educational resources and more, please contact the Chamber (stephs@shoalschamber.com) with your name, school, subjects and grades taught.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Business & Career Speakers
Business and community volunteers speak to students, educators, in-services, PTO/PTA meetings, etc. about jobs and careers and the educational and skills requirements to attain them. Volunteer speakers needed, all business, career, academic, and social subjects are requested from time to time.

CHOICES
A dynamic, interactive seminar for 8^th graders, presented by business and community volunteers, to help them understand that every decision (education, money & time management, life, character, goals) has consequences and that using self discipline, they have the power & responsibility to make good CHOICES to affect their futures. See the CHOICES web site for more details, www.choices.org. Volunteer presenters needed. Corporate sponsors needed for subsequent years.

Host business volunteers needed, upon request from schools.
Career Tech School Tours
Business and community leaders tour area career technical schools to get first-hand knowledge of available educational resources and discuss skill requirements, partnership possibilities and other concerns with instructors and students.

Tutoring
Business and community volunteers help students who are struggling with academics, during or after school hours. Volunteer tutors needed upon request from schools or parents.

Mentoring
Business and community volunteers help at-risk youth by becoming a positive role model in their lives. Volunteer mentors needed upon request from schools or parents.

Volunteer Readers
Business and community volunteers assist teachers in helping young students learn to love to read, during or after school hours.  Elementary educators and after-school programs use volunteers on a regular basis.  There is also a national focus on reading each year called Read Across America on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. Volunteer readers needed

Job Fairs
Free to the entire community, job seekers can attend this one-stop-shop to seek information and employment from participating employers.  Fairs are produced as employer hiring needs warrant.  Also search for jobs at Alabama's Job Bank,  www.jobsearch.org/al/ and other career information at Shoals Career Center web site, http://es.dir.alabama.gov/shoalscc.html

After-School Learning Centers
Community-based, safe, positive, learning environments, after school hours. There are a number of after-school programs functioning in the Shoals. The Chamber supports them primarily through publicity, providing grant information, communication and networking opportunities. Volunteers needed for tutoring, teaching workshops & classes, technology help, financial support, manual labor and many other ways.


Educator "Externships" in Businesses
Educators spend 3-10 days with host businesses and get hands-on experience in jobs and skills for which their students will someday be eligible. This helps educators relate the subjects they teach to real-world work situations and makes academic classroom education more relevant to the students' future careers, for both the students and the educator.  The ultimate goal is for classroom curriculum to become more project-based. Financial support needed for this valuable program.

The Shoals Chamber of Commerce's Education / Workforce Development programs and activities need the support and expertise of the business and manufacturing community.  Today's students are YOUR  FUTURE WORKFORCE! They and their teachers need to hear from you about what you will expect of them in a few short years.  If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Please get involved!