Explore photos from the Governor’s Summit on Work-Based Learning in May 2017.

GHYW attends Governor’s Summit

Representatives from Grays Harbor Youth Works, including Executive Director Doreen Cato and intern Jordan Skelly (left), joined students from Nespelem School and other districts to form a student panel.

Check out this article from KXRO Newsradio featuring the Summit. (See full article here)

$15,000 Coming To Grays Harbor Youth Works

Governor Jay Inslee, Washington STEM, and the Workforce Board announced twenty one career related programs across the state will receive a $15,000 grant. These programs will all participate in an assessment of high-quality “Career Connected Learning” and identification of best practices.

Each program will strive to create “more work experience opportunities for young people” throughout Washington.

Included in the grants is the Grays Harbor Youth Works in Ocean Shores. YouthWorks is a program that “engages high school students in college-level internships with local businesses to develop “soft skills” that increase the likelihood of success in postsecondary and job pursuits.”

All programs involved serve young people ages 16-29 engaged in STEM-focused learning.

In May 2017, the Learning Lab programs will meet at the Governor’s Summit on Work-Based Learning to share their successes and develop strategies to expand programs throughout the state.

Governor Jay Inslee said, “STEM education is critical to maintain a competitive, world-class workforce. These programs will help prepare Washington’s young people for great careers and help determine how we can expand STEM education and training across the state,”

“We’ll be learning what works for STEM career connected learning in rural and urban areas, for youth in middle school through young adulthood, and with diverse groups from foster youth to vets to Tribal youth,” said Patrick D’Amelio, CEO of Washington STEM. “The Learning Labs will help us understand how to effectively support young people’s STEM career pathways.”

“Far too few Washington young people have the opportunity to make connections between education and careers – leaving them uninspired and disconnected from the work world and from school. These Learning Labs can be a game changer, with youth immersing themselves in meaningful work experience that gives them hands-on experience in a variety of career pathways, all while learning valuable workplace skills,” said Workforce Board Executive Director Eleni Papadakis. “Washington’s Workforce Board supports these pilot projects, and we hope to replicate promising best practices in other places around the state.” (See full article here)