Green Street Students Lead Project to Address Social Media Concerns
BDCC Director of Programs, Jen Stromsten, had a chance to meet with a middle school leadership group made up of five 6th graders from the Green Street School After School Program. The students are tackling something that’s a stressor for individuals and the school community as a whole: social media use by younger and younger kids. The students are structuring a community conversation they hope will lead to a set of recommendations. “The students have incredible insight about what’s going on, based on their own experience but also what they are observe. This is a really cool project that’s translating that compassionate concern into action – starting with research through questions and conversation.”
The students talked about what leadership means to them. To tie this project into the work that BDCC does, Stromsten talked with the students about the skills they are using to do the project, and how they apply to all kinds of work outside of the school setting such as the programs and projects led by BDCC.
BDCC’s partnership with Windham County schools is implemented through the BDCC Pipelines and Pathways Program. While it primarily serves high schoolers, we’re always looking for ways to connect younger students with knowledge that helps them dream big about their futures.
About Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides career education within the five southeastern Vermont public high schools. P3 helps students develop their personalized learning plans (PLP) through learning experiences to develop knowledge about career opportunities, and achieve their goals after graduation. Students develop soft skills, financial literacy, knowledge about economic sectors and skills in-demand through hands-on activities, work-based learning, and mentorships. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the region’s workforce. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/engaging-with-high-school-students/
P3 was launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023 P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center and the West River Education District in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont.
