
Online Q&A sessions connect local youth to available jobs
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, companies are hiring local youth. The Career Connect at Home video series helps workers find the jobs they want. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as one might expect, has exacerbated the difficulty in connecting workers to jobs in Whatcom County and throughout Washington state. However, as the economy begins to open up, […]

Nov. 19 event to help high schoolers decide on college, career
High school students and their families are invited to an informational event at Bellingham’s Squalicum High School Nov. 19 to help make choices about colleges and careers. At 5:30 p.m., Tanya Rojas, from Northwest Educational Service District 189, will deliver a keynote presentation titled “Discovering your Passion.” The keynote will be followed by breakout sessions […]

YESWhatcom.com aims to build robust career pipeline for local youth
Whatcom County, like the rest of the United States, is experiencing an employment crisis. Many great jobs are going unfilled because there simply aren’t enough workers seeking employment in the trades. Jobs are out there, and a four-year degree isn’t necessary to get started on a high-wage career path. In Washington state, for example, electricians […]

No-cost cybersecurity camp for Whatcom County students
Whatcom Community College is offering GenCyber camps for middle and high school students who want to explore cybersecurity — a rapidly growing, high demand field in the U.S. and worldwide. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities. They’ll learn how cybersecurity professionals help protect information and information systems from unauthorized access, misuse, and destruction. Sounds interesting, […]

Resources for talking with kids about college alternatives
It’s getting easier and easier these days to find a great family-wage job without a college degree. Why? Simply put, there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill all of the available jobs. Whatcom County youth who are considering entering the workforce without going to college have a number of great paths available to them. Here […]

What is career-connected learning?
Young adults aged 18 to 24 experience unemployment rates that are double those in older age groups, and they have the greatest difficulty finding a job and keeping it, according to Washington’s Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board. Meanwhile, thousands of employers in the state have said that a lack of qualified candidates has left […]

Whatcom entrepreneurs inspire youth to work hard, seek meaningful careers
Whatcom Business Alliance’s Youth Engagement Initiative launched in February 2018 with presentations from four Whatcom County business founders and entrepreneurs. In front of 300 youth at Bellingham Technical College, Kevin Menard of Transition Bikes, Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry, Erin Baker of Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods, and Mike Andes of Augusta Lawn Care Services […]