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to affect the abundance of engineers and computer scientists. "For the manufacturing sector, workforce development is lacking."
The Mount Vernon Chamber aims to tackle the workforce development issue and make Skagit County a more enticing place to work and live for current students with our brand new business education partnership between local schools and businesses. In addition to the speakers' bureau started last year, the Chamber will be soliciting mentors and job shadow placements for local high school students. We hope to expand this in future years to include internships, field trips, and career panels. The future workers of our state need to know what their options are and how to get there.
Now is your chance to make a difference in a student's life and career by hosting a job shadow at your place of business or becoming a mentor to a high school student. If this sounds easy, that's because it is! A job shadow will only take two to four hours of your time. As a job shadow location, you will not only show students what you do and how you do it in a one-time visit of 2-4 hours, but you will also explain to students how you use math, reading, writing, communication, and analysis skills every single day. Your influence could make the difference in a student's life, their decision to stay in school, and their decision about where to work and live. Being a mentor will only take an hour a week, and you could help coach a student through some difficult times in their life, as well as give advice on career decisions. Many students are in need of extra guidance when it comes to life, school, and the future.
The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce's business education partnership consists of a web-based interface used by the students and teachers to choose job shadows, internships, speakers, and more. The only point of contact for you, the business person, is the Chamber. This is to ensure that you will not receive excessive calls and requests. You can choose to do only one thing per year or many. Students will not see your name or business name in conjunction with the opportunity ad online, so you do not risk getting calls directly.
We truly believe that the businesses in Skagit County can make a difference in the lives and career decisions of our future workforce. If you would like to support this program with sponsorship dollars, your donation to the Mount Vernon Chamber Foundation, the administrator of this program, is tax deductible. Step up to the plate and support local students with time and attention. You won't be sorry that you helped a student on their way. Call Kristen Whitener or Amelia Cook at the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce at 360-428-8547 for more information.