The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop visited Baldwin County March 28-April 1. The Mobile Workshop was hosted at Baldwin County High School each day from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. As the host site, Baldwin County worked with Jones, Monroe, Putnam and Wilkinson counties’ CTAE directors to identify students that would benefit from learning more about Georgia’s most in-demand professions. The Industrial Authorities have partnered with both WorkSource areas to ensure the success of this event.
The need for skilled workers has never been greater. All industry sectors were already feeling a void in the workforce from a large number of individuals approaching retirement that has now been exacerbated by vacancies left from the global pandemic. WorkSource Macon-Bibb (WSMB) and WorkSource Middle Georgia (WSMG) in coordination with the Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) have been focused on identifying creative ways to backfill the workforce pipeline to help address these vacancies through the region’s youth.
Most recently, WorkSource Macon-Bibb (WSMB) and WorkSource Middle Georgia (WSMG) partnered with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development to bring the state-of-the-art, interactive Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop to middle Georgia. Be Pro Be Proud is a movement focusing on bringing a new generation of pride, progress, and professionals to Georgia’s skilled workforce.
The 40-foot open-air trailer features five highly interactive simulations of Georgia’s most in-demand skilled professions, including commercial truck driving, health care, plumbing, welding, and robotics. Utilizing the latest digital and virtual technology, each simulation places students directly into a skilled profession where they learn important career information and complete skills challenges. Additionally, the initiative focuses on changing the mindsets of students, parents, and educators on the importance of skilled trades.
Along with the mobile workshop, the Be Pro Be Proud website promotes 15 skilled professions with 10 percent or more growth potential and links to training and area industries that are hiring within these professions. Students can “Join the Movement” on beprobeproudga.org, which connects students with education and career opportunities.
In addition to the Be Pro Be Proud Trailer, Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia State, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Military College, and Georgia College State University will be on site to connect a student’s career path with the necessary training that is needed to be successful. There will also be industry partners on site to discuss potential employment opportunities and recruiters for those that are interested in learning more about these industry sectors in the military.
This tour is the second of a three-series visit to middle Georgia. The first was hosted in Macon-Bibb County in September 2021. The final tour will be in Houston County April 19-22. Each host site will partner with their contiguous counties providing an opportunity for all 11 counties in middle Georgia to benefit.
– Contributed