In a joint effort, the Central Virginia Workforce Development Board will be co-hosting a Regional Career Exploration event with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and Chambers of Commerce throughout the region at Liberty University’s Indoor Track April 9th and 10th. Students from Appomattox, Amherst, Bedford, Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg are invited to attend the event. The event will connect employers to these thousands of students in middle and high school.
The purpose of the event, Worlds of Opportunity (WOO), is to expose students to career paths in our area and to provide a glimpse into careers through an interactive, engaging series of activities. The decision to target middle and high school students was a strategic one, students are deciding coursework and understanding the requirements of the industry can better prepared students for in-demand careers.
Ben Bowman, Executive Director for the Central VA Workforce Development Board, states, “we are excited to partner with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, area chambers and all of our region’s schools on the Worlds of Opportunity Career Expo that will provide hand’s on career exploration for students and create greater awareness of the high demand and well-paying career paths with our regional employers.”
Students will have the opportunity to talk to industry professionals about high-growth, high demand jobs in our region and how they can earn these jobs in the future. Christine Kennedy, COO, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and Central VA Workforce Board member, explained, “employers in the region not only need skilled workers today, but they must also be strategically educating their future workers on the benefits, income potential and viability of their industry. If we don’t market these in demand occupations to middle and high school students now, we miss out on the opportunity to get them into the career pathway. This career expo will ensure students know their options and how to get into the field as quickly as possible.”
Businesses interested in participating can register through the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance website on contact Christine Kennedy CKennedy@lynchburgregion.org. Businesses are asked to promote their industry or profession and work among other similar businesses to highlight the career pathways. This new approach will help the industry sectors grow as well as the individual companies.
This event will be the kickoff event to a regional career pathways effort to better connect educators and employers to keep our students well-informed and prepared to enter the workforce. To learn more about the event contact Ben Bowman, ben.bowman@vcwcentral.com
