Oak Park Business and Education Alliance

As the student and family population of urban public schools becomes more ethnically and economically diverse, teachers and the future employers of students are challenged. The Oak Park Business and Education Alliance provides a way for the community to collaborate with Oak Park teachers and administrators to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in education beyond high school and careers in tomorrow's workplace. Our mission is to To enhance the potential of the students of Oak Park School District’s success in higher education and the workplace.

Description:
The Oak Park Business and Education Alliance runs several programs in the Oak Park School District including reward and recognition programs as well as scholarship programs. Among those are two programs that allows for the business community to participate with a hands on approach:

Faces of the Future is an innovative, motivational, strategic planning and mentoring program using an award-winning program produced by Winning Futures. Adult mentors are recruited from businesses from the Detroit Metropolitan area. Mentors are asked to participate in a one-year small group-mentoring program working with second semester Oak Park eighth grade students through their first semester of ninth grade.

Our School Liaison program pairs volunteers from the business community with classroom teachers to help prepare Oak Park students for post-secondary education and 21st century careers. Students learn about career awareness, entrepreneurship, and goal-setting as well as focusing on leadership and soft-skills development.

History:
The Oak Park Business and Education Alliance is a continuation of a successful pilot project initiated by Consumers Energy to help schools graduate students for tomorrow's workforce.

Established in 1993, the Alliance is a nonprofit organization of educators, businesses and government entities that provide assistance to the Oak Park School District to improve the educational experience of individual students. As part of the District's Improvement Plan, the Alliance initiates and supports activities that motivate students to meet performance goals toward graduation and ultimately college or advanced vocational training in preparation for tomorrow's employment. Activities include student recognition events, job-shadowing, work-based learning, and internship experiences to help prepare students to join the workforce as qualified and motivated employees. Ultimately, the Alliance's efforts will help employers recruit a diversified workforce.

The Oak Park School District's improvement plan has been recognized as a model program for urban schools who serve primarily African American and immigrant student populations.

Contact person: Lori Fidler, Executive Director, (248) 967-0457, (email)

Office fax number: (248) 967-1054

Address:

25900 Greenfield Rd., Suite 200A Oak Park, MI 48237 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.opbea.org

Last updated on September 9, 2009