MeckEd

Today, we continue our series, where we highlight the successes of the students we serve. Meet Nevaeh Kirby! Nevaeh is a recent graduate of Julius L. Chambers High School. Throughout her high school years, Nevaeh faced immense challenges. Many of her struggles mirror the socioeconomic obstacles that we see in the crescent communities across town. On top of these hardships, she had to work to help her family achieve stability. Subsequently, she fell behind in school while trying to adapt.  Despite these overwhelming barriers, Nevaeh Kirby remained committed to the pursuit of her goals. She actively participated in MeckEd programs, securing an internship while also joining initiatives like Inner Peace and Inner Strength Mentoring Program to support her mental health. These programs offered her a sense of stability and inner resilience amid life's obstacles. In March 2024, Nevaeh Kirby was introduced to an opportunity to work for the City of Charlotte through a unique partnership with the City, CMS, and MeckEd. This proved to be a turning point in her journey. From that moment, her path began to shift. After months of meetings and interviews, on June 18, 2024, while on a hiking trip with MeckEd, Nevaeh Kirby received the life-changing news—an offer letter for the career of a lifetime. That offer changed everything for Nevaeh Kirby. Now, just a few months into her new role, Nevaeh Kirby is thriving in her career. Moreover, after months of insecurity, she and her family achieved the stability they had been working so hard to accomplish. She credits MeckEd for helping her not only succeed professionally but also for helping her to rebuild her life. We give all the credit to Nevaeh for remaining steadfast and never giving up!

There are 2️⃣ more days left in Free College Application Week.  Our Career Pathways Advisors have been working with our seniors all week to make sure they take advantage of the opportunity. 💲 We are grateful to University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Fayetteville State University for providing our students with a wonderful college tour experience earlier this month! 🎓   For the students that attended the college tour, guess what schools they're applying to?  🤔 Exposure matters! We are also grateful to Jason Deans, MCA and Metcon, Inc. for hosting an amazing Lunch & Learn for our students during their college tours.  Many of Metcon's leaders are proud graduates of UNCP and proud construction partners.  They did a wonderful job of connecting education to career.  They also set a super high bar for workplace culture.  Our scholars’ expectations shifted.  💡 Exposure matters! Finally, students were able to take a trip to the beach.  This was a new experience for some, and we’re humbled to be able to provide it. Our fellow water lovers know that experiencing the ocean offers a special kind of peace and calm that can change our expectations. 🌊 Exposure matters! Thank you to every single MeckEd supporter that makes experiences like these possible! 💯

October 21st-October 27th (THIS WEEK!) is Free College Application Week! https://lnkd.in/ggKk5gsb NC College Connect offers a simplified application to select UNC System Schools and NC Community Colleges for students with a weighted GPA of 2.8+ https://lnkd.in/g_EhWCWe

Today, we continue our series highlighting the successes of the students we are fortunate enough to serve. Meet Italie Byers! Italie began her journey with MeckEd during her 10th-grade year at Julius L. Chambers, entering the program as a shy and reserved student. Through a series of internships facilitated by the program, Italie’s confidence and communication skills grew significantly. She initially expressed interest in attending Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), as this aligned with her early aspirations. However, after participating in a college tour organized by MeckEd, where she visited the campuses of UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, and Fayetteville State University, Italie began envisioning a different path for herself. She recently shared her newfound desire to attend a college away from home, marking a significant shift in her academic and personal goals. MeckEd provided Italie with internship opportunities that fostered her professional growth and helped to build her self-confidence. The program also offered college and career counseling, which included college tours that broadened her perspective on higher education. Italie’s journey with MeckEd started in her 10th-grade year, and she is now set to graduate early as a senior, a testament to her hard work and the support she received. We are grateful to Italie for allowing us to be a part of her journey!

It's about that time! While the FAFSA won't be ready for most students until December, the show must go on! Many of our students are utilizing common applications and early decision timelines in order to get more access to scholarships that are often crucial to their ability to access a college education. Shamika Fletcher and the rest of our Career Pathway Advisors attended the CACRAO College Fair with MeckEd students along with other students in CMS yesterday. It's always exciting when we can see our scholars' plans coming together!

What’s the difference between Employability and Soft Skills?  Until we sat through Joshua Levy’s presentation on the NC Department of Commerce’s Employer Needs Survey we didn’t think there was a difference.  Apparently, employers seem to think so.  The MeckEd team was able to attend the NC Works Partnership Conference last week, where we learned that Employability Skills are the #1 challenge in hiring young and/or entry level workers.  It’s #4 for experienced workers.  There isn't a clear difference between Employability and Soft Skills.  They are both non-technical, transferable skills that are highly valued by employers because they’re hard to teach.  Most are natural or acquired through experience.  However, it seems like the difference is that Soft Skills are more aligned with people skills.  Here are some examples: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: SOFT SKILLS: Work Ethic Communication Professionalism Teamwork Problem Solving Likability Time Management Flexibility Tech Savvy Emotionally Intelligent Creative Leadership Based on this survey, our young people are struggling with Employability Skills.  In addition to our team being good, real-life examples, MeckEd creates opportunities for our scholars to build their Employability muscles through inclusion, responsiveness and setting high and attainable standards.  We’re changing the narrative for our future workforce!

Today, we continue our series highlighting the successes of the students we are fortunate enough to serve. Zechariah Beard joined MeckEd in May 2022 as a high school student eager to carve a path toward a stable career. Despite personal and academic challenges, he remained committed to his goals, seeking opportunities that aligned with his passions. Through MeckEd, Zechariah participated in internships, financial literacy workshops, career readiness training, and hands-on experiences like job shadowing and worksite tours. These opportunities helped him gain the skills and confidence to thrive in the workforce. Now, as a high school graduate, Zechariah is embarking on his career with the City of Charlotte's Department of Transportation—a role he’s well-prepared for thanks to his dedication and our program’s support. Zechariah's story is a powerful reminder of how perseverance, combined with the right guidance, can lead to success. We're proud to have played a part in helping him achieve his career goals! #StudentSuccess #CareerReadiness #WorkforceDevelopment #MeckEd

Have you ever heard of Ethnomathematics?  Me, neither.. Ethnomathematics is a term introduced by Brazilian mathematician Ubiratàn D’Ambrosio in 1991.  Essentially, it examines how different cultures use math.  Why is it important to put a cultural lens on something as seemingly neutral as math?  The linked article shares the following statistic: “More than 70% of Black female respondents in general math classes had “a negative math identity” compared to 14% of Black boys. And 86% of Black girls in general math did not see the connection between their desired careers and mastery of advanced mathematics — even when they wished to enter STEM fields. That is compared to 67% of Black boys.” 65% of MeckEd’s scholars are young ladies.  49% of MeckEd’s scholars are young ladies who are black.   “Black girls don’t see themselves in mathematics…The things that they like, they don’t see in math.” It’s interesting that the quote notes that black girls don’t see what they like in math, and not that they don’t see math in what they like.  It would seem that a remedy would be to make math curricula culturally relevant to students.  For example, the article highlights a paper by Gloria Gilmer, an expert in ethnomathematics, that examines the math behind African-American hairstyles.  If you’ve ever seen a black barber cut hair, or a black braider part or cornrow, the math is clear… So, what if our K-12 math teachers were exposed to the  Ubiratàn D’Ambrosios or the Gloria Gilmers in the world?  Ethnomathematics is new to us, but it may not be new to you.  If you know of a resource that we can share with our students and partner educators, let’s connect! https://lnkd.in/eBgzQnXK

Today, as we begin our series highlighting the successes of our students past and present, we celebrate Jahmare Joyner! Jahmare joined MeckEd Career Pathways as a 10th grader in 2021, facing the challenges of adjusting to a new state and navigating life in a single-parent household. Despite these and other obstacles, Jahmare’s perseverance and ambition shone through. Through our program, Jahmare participated in job shadows, resume and interview prep, and leadership training. We provided support by covering costs like transportation and meals, allowing him to fully engage in these opportunities. Jahmare also participated in several rounds of paid internships which helped provide some financial stability while he pursued his goals. Jahmare’s journey also rekindled his love for football and helped him become a leader in his school and community. Now a proud graduate of Harding University HS, and a freshman at Claflin University, Jahmare plans to continue his leadership and involvement in sports. We are honored to have been a part of his story, and are excited to see what he does next!