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Hello everyone!
My name is Lanisha Stevens, and I truly am excited to serve as an intern for The DeBruce Foundation this summer. I’m a rising senior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, majoring in psychology. My career goals are to work in either college or career counseling, and I believe The DeBruce Foundation will guide me to achieve my goals and beyond.
Taking the Agile Work Profiler has allowed me to see several Agilities that will help me build my career path. Developing Others, Innovating, and Organizing are a few of the Agilities I hope to use this summer in my internship. Although some were shocking to find out, this helps me think outside of the box about how each Agility fits into my role.
I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity and look forward to building connections here at The DeBruce Foundation!
A Summer Full of Career Opportunities
Shout out to our organizational partner, Startland, and their summer cohort of interns! Over the course of 5 weeks, they are engaging in professional projects around public health, political issues, racial injustice, climate change, or education. Learn more about the Social Change Internship.
Hundreds of young leaders throughout Kansas City are developing work skills, earning income, and increasing their career literacy this summer. Learn more about this coordinated initiative called ProX.
Building Imagination + Agilities
At Destination Imagination’s Global Finals 2022, youth teams from across the world gathered to compete, solve challenges, and celebrate creativity and innovation.
While there, youth had the opportunity to take the Agile Work Profiler to identify the skills they’re building and name the interests they’re exploring, then they drew the futures they’re striving for with Patti Dobrowolski of Up Your Creative Genius!
Expanding Pathways at the NACE Conference
Our ED and COO, Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, was thrilled to attend and present at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conference!
Together with Dr. Juan Carlos Espinosa of Florida International University and Kristin Schrader of Parker Dewey, this panel discussed Micro-Internships as a way to connect students with small businesses, drive economic development, and expand career pathways.
Essential Skills featured as a key to growth
A recent article in the Daily Herald features our friends at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Urban Education Research Center and our Essential Skills report:
“While technical skills certainly can help a business grow in needed areas, a recent report by the DeBruce Foundation and Urban Education Resource Center has identified a number of critical soft skills that are needed for growth in all aspects of a business“
Improving Adult Learner Outcomes
Robin Smith, DeBruce Foundation Senior Director, recently joined the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development and 12 institutions across the state for their first ever Student Journey Mapping Workshop.
This two-day event focused on the access points in which an adult learner comes into contact with higher education, and it served to aid in developing action plans for institutions statewide to more effectively serve adult learners.
Check out the Missouri Adult Learner Network.
Networking for Career Resiliency
Networking plays a key role in building career resiliency. Graduating seniors from Bishop Ward High School recently stopped by to celebrate their accomplishments with us: they not only just graduated from high school, but also completed dual-credits at Donnelly College!
Thank you to Kyra and Khalil, DeBruce Career Corps members and college students, for sharing your wisdom, encouragement, and career journeys!
Career Pathways Spotlight
This month’s blog features Stacia, a DeBruce Career Corps member and recent high school graduate. In her interview, she reflects on her educational journey, the work skills she has developed along the way, and her advice to others pursuing their careers:
“If someone tells you you can’t achieve something, prove them wrong. Take discouraging words and turn them around as your encouragement. Work to get where you want to go.“
Read more about Stacia’s plans for a career path marked by determination, representation, and caring for others.
Celebrating and Equipping 2022 Graduates
Across the nation, graduates are crossing the stage, tossing their caps, and celebrating their accomplishments. However, many students are still trying to answer the question, “Now, what?”
We designed this resource just for them: the Graduation Toolkit is a collection of career tools to help graduates identify their work skills, explore job opportunities, and make a plan for their future.
Watch this story on KCTV5 and share the Graduation Toolkit with the grads in your life!
Join us for Agilities Training
Are you looking to boost the career literacy of your students, program participants, or clients?
Attend a virtual or in-person training to enhance how you and your team can leverage career resources and embed them into your programming:
7/5 Agilities Tour
7/12 Leveraging Agilities & Essential Skills
7/19 Agilities Tour
8/4-5 Certified Agility Coach Training
