Community Partnerships

In collaboration with EDC’s Center for Educational Resources and Outreach, EEC has developed the Ford PAS program. Ford PAS includes an interdisciplinary high school curriculum that challenges students academically and develops their problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. The program links classroom learning to future opportunities in business, engineering, and technology, and motivates young people to succeed in college and careers. These links are forged through innovative partnerships with business, higher education, and the community.

CSE is helping develop a Northeast Biomanufacturing Collaborative, a regional center with hubs in 12 states from Maine to Virginia. The project helps partnerships of community colleges, biotechnology companies, high schools, and four-year colleges develop programs and curricula to train people for biomanufacturing occupations and careers in the biotechnology industry.

The Lorain City School District’s Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) project provides professional development, career development, college awareness activities, and summer school programming in support of six SLCs. EDC conducts a project evaluation that focuses on changes in student performance attributable to the project and the degree of integration of professional development in the classroom.

EDC in collaboration with Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) developed a four lesson curriculum unit for high school students to learn about affordable housing problems and solutions. Schools were paired with community partner organizations, and students encouraged to work with government agencies and community groups to address local problems. The curriculum unit was pilot tested in 2006 in Boston, Newton, and Worcester. In the 2006-2007 school year, the schools will use it again, and new schools in Boston, Needham, and other communities will be added.

A collaborative effort between EDC’s Education, Employment, and Community Programs and the Center for Educational Resources and Outreach, the Ford PAS Alternative Energy project builds on the successful Ford PAS interdisciplinary high school curriculum that EDC developed in collaboration with the Ford Motor Company Fund.

A collaborative effort between EDC’s Education, Employment, and Community Programs and the Center for Educational Resources and Outreach, the Ford PAS Alternative Energy project builds on the successful Ford PAS interdisciplinary high school curriculum developed by EDC in collaboration with the Ford Motor Company Fund. This new project is expanding and strengthening the science content of the existing Ford PAS materials, creating a course focusing on the physics and engineering aspects of alternative energy and expanding the module on environmental issues to create a full biology course.

VOICES for Youth recruits and trains full-time volunteers from an interdenominational network of faith-based organizations in Cleveland, Ohio. The volunteers provide comprehensive mentoring services to adjudicated youth. EDC has developed training modules and conducts training sessions for volunteers affiliated with the project. EDC is also developing a report that reviews the type and extent of services faith-based organizations in the Greater Cleveland area provide to youth.

The twin goals of the SmART Schools program are to strengthen the place of the arts as a core academic subject and to strengthen the use of high-quality, standards-based arts in other academic subjects. This two- year grant allows FSC to fully implement the SmART program in three Vermont schools, located in three different Vermont regions.

The Employment Services for Youth Offenders Project provides training and job placement services to youth, ages 16 to 21, involved in the justice system. Job training and placement focuses on high wage/high demand occupations. EDC provides technical assistance to project management and to partner organizations. EDC will develop a report that analyzes the barriers local employers confront when hiring adjudicated youth.