Centralina WDB NEXTGEN Services in Action

Over 400 Iredell-Statesville School Students Impacted by Centralina Workforce Development Board NEXTGEN Services

"We got next,we got next,we got next!"

This is what many students chanted at a Career Pathways Event held on Tuesday,October 10,2017 at the Statesville Civic Center. The event was sponsored by Iredell-Statesville Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE) department,NCWorks Career Center-Statesville,Centralina WDB NEXTGEN Services,Statesville Chamber of Commerce,Iredell Economic Development,Mitchell Community College,and Mooresville Graded Public Schools CTE department.

Gary Mason,Centralina WDB NEXTGEN Services Leader thought it would be a great idea to begin the motivational speeches in this engaging way." Each time the Iredell-Statesville students hollered the chant,they got louder and louder as if they were at a professional ball game screaming for their favorite team."

The energy and enthusiasm in the room was off the charts." Solomon McAuley,Centralina WDB NEXTGEN Specialist and Mason joined in together in what would be their first time doing a major partnered speech together in the Centralina WDB region." Eighth grade middle school students in Iredell-Statesville Schools came together for the day to experience different breakout sessions around a career pathway theme for a full school day. The students arrived at 9 AM and could explore a host of presentations from area companies and related career topics. Some of the businesses making presentations included:

• Statesville Fire
• Doosan
• Roush Yates Engines
• Johnson Concreate Company
• L. Wilson
• Iredell Health Systems
• Energy United
• Reality Check

Mason and McAuley held four breakout sessions throughout the day from 9am to 2pm discussing Reality Check,a new online tool designed by the North Carolina Department of Commerce which helps individuals estimate the income necessary to support a desired lifestyle." They also promoted Centralina Career Headlight – www.centralinacareerheadlight.com for students to find the right career path to employment in this region. Mason and McAuley also provided engaging life tips that the students would be able to carry with them for the rest of their lives."

The event was a great success and the Centralina WDB NEXTGEN message reached over 400 students throughout the impactful day." For more information about Centralina WDB NEXTGEN services to youth and young adults,contact Solomon McAuley at smauley@centralina.org or (704) 348-2725.

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