When 15-year-old Alex picked up a welding torch at our Behind the Drywall summer institute, he wasn’t just learning a trade; he was discovering a career he had never imagined for himself. As he practiced his first welds, he began to see a bigger picture: Through a local welding program, he could attend college and earn credentials that would open doors to stable, high-paying work.
Across town, 16-year-old Jordan spent the morning on a job shadow, touring a local hospital, exploring different departments and doing an activity around disease transmission. She discovered that a career in health care was not only attainable in her community but was also exciting. These hands-on, immersive experiences allowed her to see herself as an emergency room nurse.
Students like Alex and Jordan have talent, curiosity and drive, like many of the students in our region. What they don’t always have access to are the opportunities that turn potential into achievement. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. It’s up to our community to make sure it reaches every student.
At the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (or The Collaborative), a local nonprofit, we see the transformative power of career-connected and hands-on learning every day. Schools cannot do this work alone. Teachers and staff members manage full classrooms, behavioral challenges and countless responsibilities. By partnering with local businesses and higher education, the community can share expertise and resources, giving students the mentorship and hands-on experiences they need to explore careers and reach their full potential.
When students spend time with professionals in the trades, working with local health care professionals, and hearing about conservation efforts by local Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers, they gain skills and confidence to pursue meaningful careers in our region. Experiences like these often ignite passions that are carried forward into classrooms and careers.
The benefits extend far beyond individual students. When schools and industries collaborate, our entire region strengthens. Businesses gain access to a future workforce, teachers elevate the learning experiences they offer, and students develop skills and confidence to thrive. Authentic work-based learning experiences create a ripple effect: Students are more engaged in school, more motivated to pursue higher education or apprenticeships, and are more prepared to step into careers that sustain and grow our communities.
No single school, business or organization can provide these opportunities alone. The strength of Southwest Colorado comes from collaboration. When we pool resources, share expertise and roll up our sleeves together, we ensure every student across the region has access to mentors and real-world career experiences. The Collaborative was founded on the belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When schools, higher education and industry partners unite, students receive opportunities they could not have anywhere else.
Our vision is one where all our local public school districts are fully engaged in this work so that students from all backgrounds can benefit from the programs and services we provide. We believe this is not a small investment but rather the foundation of a workforce development that our communities need to thrive. If our local young people cannot see themselves in meaningful careers with a living wage, they will leave the area to find them.
We invite businesses and community members to join us in this effort. Whether it’s being a guest speaker, hosting students at your worksite or mentoring an intern, we all have a responsibility to positively impact our young people and hopefully retain local talent. Every experience counts. And together, we can build Southwest Colorado into a region where talent is nurtured, opportunities are plentiful and the workforce of tomorrow is stronger than ever.
Patrick Fredricks is the interim executive director of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative that works with seven school districts, two higher education institutions and many industry partners throughout the region. Reach him at pfredricks@swcoedcollaborative.org.
