FLATE’s
STEM-based outreach initiative to educate, inspire and captivate interest in
STEM and
high-tech manufacturing encompasses middle and high school students as
well as educators from all points in the social continuum. In the current and
past year, in particular, FLATE reached out to students in rural communities, minority
students who face economic challenges, women and girls who remain
underrepresented in the STEM based professions and even homeschooled students. FLATE’s
efforts to ensure every student is exposed to STEM-based opportunities, be it
through traditional classroom learning, problem-based learning, or through
experiential learning has yielded strategic partnerships that have positively
impacted students as well as educators.
Most
recently, FLATE has been working on a special partnership with the Able Trust. The
Able Trust which is also known as the Florida Endowment Foundation for
Vocational Rehabilitation, is a nonprofit organization established by the
Florida Legislature in 1990. Its key mission is to provide and empower Floridians
with disabilities, opportunities for successful employment and enter the
workforce. (Source: Able Trust)
Able
Trust’s program and grants are centered and focused on vocational
rehabilitation programs. Its programs provide career development opportunities
to students with disabilities, helping reduce dropout rate and preparing them for
life beyond high school. Able Trust supports diverse projects that range from
on-the-job coaching, employer outreach and any programs leading to employment.
The Able Trust Youth Program, Youth Leadership Forum, and the High School High
tech programs, for example, are focused on developing specific skillset that
have impacted individuals with documented disabilities across Florida.
As
part of its partnership with FLATE, students enrolled in the Able Trust High
School High Tech
(HSHT) program, Able Trust administrators and coordinators have
been on several industry tours arranged by FLATE. The HSHT initiative is
designed to provide high school students with disabilities the opportunity to
explore jobs, or postsecondary education leading to technology-related careers.
Last month, as part of the Able Trust HSHT Conference, FLATE coordinated a tour
and luncheon for 70 people that included Education Commissioner, Pam Stewart, Able
Trust Directors and HSHT Coordinators, to tour Southern Manufacturing
Technologies—a high-tech manufacturer in Tampa. At the tour, Desh Bagley,
outreach manager for FLATE gave a presentation about FLATE’s statewide STEM
based programs and educational resources that the coordinators could access and
incorporate as part of their HSHT teaching experience.
The
presentation sparked tremendous interest, and inspired Able Trust HSHT
coordinators to participate in national manufacturing day in Florida industry
tours and establish connections with regional manufacturers associations across
the state. Working with the Manufacturers Association of Central Florida, FLATE
helped set-up tours for students enrolled in the Able Trust HSHT program in
Central Florida to go on local industry tours as part of National Manufacturing
Day in Florida. “These are the types of impactful alliances that FLATE likes to
make across the state” said Desh Bagley, FLATE’s outreach manager.
In
Orlando, a total of 120 students participated in industry tours to learn about
high-tech and STEM-
based careers in manufacturing. According to Allison Chase,
vice president of youth programs at the Able Trust Foundation in Tallahassee,
one of the HSHT groups even participated in the FLATE Toothpick Factory, simulation
game to develop soft skills, in preparation for their tour. “Students have been
surprised to learn about the variety of jobs available in the manufacturing
industry and many have expressed an interest in learning more about manufacturing
as a future career” said Chase. Some of the sites they visited in Orlando were
Custom Metal Designs, Correct Craft Maker and Mitsubishi Power Systems of
America. In addition to the tours in Orlando, 15 students from the Able Trust
HSHT program in Tallahassee also attended the manufacturing open house hosted
by the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Tallahassee Community College.
“Students have been surprised to learn about the variety of jobs available in
the manufacturing industry and many have expressed an interest in learning more
about manufacturing as a future career” Chase said.
Statistics for graduation among Able Trust students are higher
than among other students with disabilities. The HSHT program at Bay Side High
School in Brevard County was recognized for having all of their Seniors
graduate, find employment or go on to post graduate studies. This fall as
part of their effort to learn about high-tech industries and opportunities, and
establish local industry contacts and chart a plan for future student tours Able
Trust staff will be touring FABCO Air, Gerdau, Budweiser, and Vistacon. “Industry
tours provide a real-world view of work and allow students to interact with
business experts, ask questions, and gain inside knowledge into specific
industries” said Chase. She hopes the tours will expand students’ knowledge
about manufacturing, careers available to them in Florida, and spark their
curiosity to explore skills and knowledge needed to get a high-tech,
high-paying job.
For
more information about the Able Trust contact Allison Chase, vice president for
youth programs at the Able Trust at allison@abletrust.org,
or visit www.abletrust.org. For
information about FLATE’s manufacturing day in Florida initiative that is
currently underway, Made in Florida industry tours during the academic year, or
any of our STEM based programs
throughout Florida visit www.madeinflorida.org
and www.fl-ate.org, or contact Executive
Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger via email at barger@fl-ate.org, or by phone at 813.259.6578.
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