More than 1,300 freshmen from Columbia Public Schools got hands-on experience in a variety of trades and industries Thursday at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s first Worlds of Work event at the Northeast Regional Park.
More than 40 vendors offered immersive, hands-on activities, introducing students to career pathways across five main industry sectors: construction and skilled trades, agriculture, healthcare and public service, technology and manufacturing, and professional services.
Traditional career fairs typically hand out bags of pamphlets and brochures, but Worlds of Work focused on hands-on learning and experience.
Students spent the day watching live demonstrations, picking up tools, and talking to industry leaders in healthcare, technology, trades, and more to learn about potential job opportunities.
“We’re really hoping to spark an interest in a student, to see something maybe they’ve never seen before,” said Katie Siegel, the director of workforce development for Columbia Public Schools, which co-hosted the Chamber event. “We’re working to infuse career awareness and curriculum across our K-12 spectrum.”
While the term workforce development has become a more common term, local initiatives through the Chamber, Regional Economic Development Inc., CPS, and other entities are putting legs to the term.
“There are so many opportunities out there for each and every student,” Siegel said. “We’re really centering this event around providing opportunities for every student, whether they are career-bound or college-bound – making sure they are ready for life. We are hoping to help navigate their career pathway choices.”
