It Takes a Village

Welcome to 2020! Can you believe it? Another decade has gone, and now the 20s are upon us (again). I’m already hearing and seeing fashion trends of flapper-esque attire and the like. How fun to re-live and rejuvenate the fashion and trends of a century ago. 

There have been so many changes in the last 100 years, and yet, in some ways, we still face the same issues we did 100 years ago; at least, in regards to the future for our children. What is their plan after graduation? Will they go to college? Enter the workforce? Find a trade? Join the military? All of these options are viable, excellent choices that must be made by each student individually. But, in order to make the best choice for themselves, it helps tremendously to understand not only their individual interests and preferences, but also what the industry looks like - especially in our local area. 

Enter, Luke Greiner, Regional Analyst. If you’re anything like me, my eyes glossed over and the words “Regional Analyst” went in one ear and out the other - for the obvious reason….sounds boring, right?! And yet, I’ve heard nothing but the opposite when it comes to Luke’s presentation on local industry information. For those who have heard him firsthand, they’ve used terms such as “fascinating” and “engaging” and even “entertaining.” I don’t know about you, but that description of this type of presentation alone has me intrigued enough to check him out.

But how does he fit in the broader picture of what Blue Earth Area is all about? Excellent question. It’s no secret that our goal in education is to prepare students in the best manner possible for life beyond high school, whatever that may look like. However, we are in an era now - perhaps the “new” Roaring 20s? - where preparing students in the best manner possible means all hands on deck; it means collaboration with school and industry alike. That is why BEA and REV (Rural Entrepreneurial Venture) has been working closely over the last several months to connect students with local business professionals. Thanks to the hard-working professionals who comprise REV, our 9th and 10th graders were able to connect with local professionals that matched their personal interests. In February, those same students will load buses and tour area businesses - again based on their interests - to see firsthand all our local economy has to offer. Then in May, these same students and professionals will once again connect one last time to continue to build upon their relationships -  all in an effort to not only expose students to the opportunities we have here, but also expose them to why people choose to make this area their home and why they choose to reside here, despite the possibilities of opportunities elsewhere.

Ok, so you understand what schools do, the partnership between BEA and REV, but what can you do? Another excellent question. You can help us by understanding the logistics and data on our local region to help educate our students and revitalize our communities. How can you do this? The first step will be to join us on Tuesday, January 7th @ 6 pm in the BEA Performing Arts Center for a one-hour invigorating presentation by Luke Greiner. This presentation will no doubt leave you with a solid understanding of what our current labor market looks like, but also where our labor market is headed. What a powerful evening this could be for us all in regards to taking ownership in our local economies and also partnering to help better prepare our youth. And, as the African proverb states - it takes a village. It will take a village to expose all the benefits our local economies have to offer and entice students to continue planting their roots here; and it can begin with you attending REV’s Luke Greiner presentation on January 7th @ 6 pm in the BEA High School Performing Arts Center. No matter your age, the age of your children, or if you don’t have any children - this night is for everyone. So come on out and join us for what will no doubt be a powerful evening of information.

If you’re interested in seeing a little of Luke’s work prior to this evening, click on this link to see his updates and newsletters. 

Happy New Year to you all and see you on the 7th!