The College and Career Access Center provides advising services and resources to middle school and high school students within Jackson’s 13 Connected Community School districts. We also serve students and adults at our Center in the Jackson Crossing. Through offering 1:1 consultations, FAFSA and Scholarship events, virtual workshops, as well as hosting local college and manufacturing tours .. WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

See what Napoleon High School graduate, Asjanet, had to say about her experience with the CCAC!

SUPPORTING THE CLASS OF 2023!

• Met with 1145, or 86% of our Seniors, providing 1:1 post-secondary advising sessions virtually or in person.
• Hosted 84 college and career virtual or classroom workshops.
• State and National Advocacy- met with State and Federal Representatives on affordability & workforce development.
• Created new Data Website Corners for each school district which houses important college & career data trends.
• Provided increased advising with our, “College Get it Done, Class of 2020 and 2021” re-engagement initiative.

The CCAC sincerely appreciates every one of you! On behalf of our board and team, THANK YOU for your support in building our workforce and assisting ALL Jackson County Residents to attain their college and career goals.

Nancy Peters-Lewis

517-990-0671

Executive Director

nancy@jacksoncac.org

Chrissy Siders

517-990-0671

Board President

csiders@cpfederal.com

In November, the CCAC officially re-launched its Kids2College/Pathway to Professional Skilled Trades (K2C/PPST) program with Hanover Horton and Michigan Center Middle schools. The CCAC partnered with Lomar Machine & Tool Co., Industrial Steel Treating Co., Orbitform, Wardcraft Conveyer and Albion College for our initial visits. These marked the first tours since the 2019-20 academic year. The K2C/PPST initiative offers college and manufacturing tours to Jackson’s 13 Connected Community 8th grade students, providing a positive and engaging experience. This unique initiative creates a college going culture by providing students with early college and career awareness while introducing pathways to skilled trades and the many opportunities within those fields. There is an educational curriculum taught in each 8th grade classroom. The program culminates in a fieldtrip that takes students on a full-day visit to a college or university campus as well as a tour of a local business, or manufacturer.

We greatly appreciate our partnerships with the many institutions of higher education and our local businesses and manufacturers. We look forward to continued successes in 2023, navigating ALL Jackson County students to productive careers through the pursuit of post-secondary education or career training.

This quarter also saw a return to in-person tours for our Juniors Over the Local Circuit (JOLC) program. The JOLC initiative offers every Junior from Jackson's 13 Connected Community School districts the opportunity to take a full-day circuit tour of our three local institutions of higher education - Baker College, Jackson College, and Spring Arbor University. Included at each institution is a guided tour of the campus and an Admissions presentation that covers specific programs, tuition, and available resources. While Baker remains a virtual tour, JC and SAU have returned to in-person visits. Our Fall tours included East Jackson, Vandercook Lake and Western High School.

The CCAC takes great pride in creatively building models to deliver our services to students and their families. Our monthly virtual workshops, created in response to the pandemic shutdown, cover a broad range of topics. The virtual planning workshop series has proven to be an efficient means of providing information to a larger audience as well as a practical means of completing important college and career planning steps from the comfort of home. Monthly topics include: college and scholarship action planning, FAFSA completion, resume/cover letter construction, and Decision Day planning.

Each Workshop is an hour in length and designed to deliver resources, detailed topic outlines, and tutorial instruction. The workshop presenter also reserves time at the end of each workshop to answer student questions on any planning topic as well as to provide virtual assistance in completing applications and other planning processes.

Another addition to our creative workshop events is the Winter Wonderland Workshop. This quarter marked our second annual Winter Wonderland event. Similar to our annual Fun Fall FAFSA and President's Day FAFSA events, we create an atmosphere of celebration and fellowship. Students receive assistance identifying local and national scholarship opportunities as well as proofreading their essays and navigating application steps. We also feature a free lunch provided by El Rey de Barbecue and gifts for every student in attendance.

The work of the CCAC is made possible through the collective impact of a community coming together to partner, collaborate, and share its greatest gifts. As we close out another year, we reflect upon the amazing partnerships we have developed over the past decade - some newly established in 2022. It’s truly an exciting time as we focus our energy on existing and new partnerships within the Jackson County. Just a few of our initiatives include:

• Lux Languages - Spanish and English Courses
• Summer Outreach at the YMCA, MLK Center, and Jackson Housing Commission
• Summer Robotics with Jackson Pathways and My Brother's Keeper
• Acceler8 Driving Instruction
• The Michigan State Police - Plan - Prepare - Perform
• College and Career mini-workshops at the Jackson Interfaith Shelter
• In-house services at our Crossing office with MyPlace and Samaritas
• Collaboration with the Jackson Heath Department's 'DRIP' group - in collaboration with the Jackson Student Anti-Racism Coalition

These initiatives are in addition to our many partnerships with local and regional institutions of higher education, businesses, manufacturers and agencies in and around our community. As we continue to expand our CCAC footprint, we give humble thanks for all of these opportunities to collaborate in our service to the students and families of Jackson County.

We Wish You All a Happy New Year and Look Very Forward to 2023!

This quarter, the CCAC is pleased to highlight a business that has served the Jackson Community since 2003. Essential Energies, located on Airport Road in Jackson, provides a space for practitioners and instructors of the healing arts to share their gifts with the greater Jackson community. To achieve their mission, Essential Energies offers a wide-variety of services and courses, such as Aromatherapy, Healing Touch, and Meditation. Their classes are based on a holistic approach and led by qualified professionals.

Owners, Marilyn Romero and Glenda Prus, both licensed nurses, were inspired to open Essential Energies by their unique personal experiences. It all began with Marilyn’s vision. She traces her interest back to her Senior year of college when she participated in a 4-year energy work program at Barbara Brennan’s School of Healing. It became her goal to help others “wake up” spiritually through the power of spiritual awareness and healing. Glenda experienced a healing transformation as well after a close friend treated her severe headaches with a single energy session. From that moment forward, Glenda found a passion for healing through positive energy.

As for the future of their business, Glenda and Marilyn hope to continue contributing to the good of the community by helping increase spiritual awareness in others that leads to the discovery of their authentic selves. To achieve that goal, Essential Energies plans to expand upon their current model by offering more community classes and workshops. Marilyn and Glenda are confident as they enter into their 20th year of business in 2023. They leave us with these inspiring words to anyone who wishes to launch a business of their own: “Find something that you are passionate about. If you really love what you’re doing, the money will come.”

Be sure to give Essential Energies a visit at:

915 Airport Rd, Jackson, MI 49203

https://www.essentialenergies.org/home