Idaho schools now have some extra help providing students access to opportunities.

The Inspiring Futures Project is helping connect schools with community businesses so students can have a wider array of internships, apprenticeships and job shadows to choose from.

“Our main goal is to focus on low-income students so we can help them get into and succeed in postsecondary education or technical skills jobs,” said Cameron Cushing, Idaho Department of Labor’s college and career readiness community coordinator for North Idaho. “There are opportunities in Kootenai County and we want to make sure the schools here are aware of them.”

Sariah Vieira, the college and career readiness advisor at KTEC — the Kootenai Technical Education Campus — has been working closely with Cushing over the past few months and welcomes his services.

“He’s connecting me with issues that maybe my office isn’t able to assist with,” Vieira said. “It’s a little early to see the effect [of the Inspiring Futures Project] on the students, but it’s helped me expand my role and now I can provide opportunities to students from those relationships he’s helped me build.”

The project is funded by a three-year grant from the Idaho Department of Labor and is run by AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. Inspiring Futures is aimed at helping low-income students grades eight through 12.

The project was created in hopes of raising the state’s go-on rate — helping more high school students go on to college or to get a job.

“We are coordinators between schools and the community to bring everything together to help students succeed after they graduate,” Cushing said. “Some schools really have it dialed in and don’t need our help, but we like to learn what they’re doing and pass it on to other schools.”

When she arrived at KTEC, there wasn’t a counseling department in place so Vieira had to start from scratch.

One way Vieira said the Inspiring Futures Project has helped KTEC is by connecting the school with local aerospace companies. KTEC doesn’t have an aerospace program, but its engineering students do have skills that apply to the industry. Now, students have access to aerospace internships and apprenticeships.

“If I need help, [Cushing is] the first person I go to; he’s really good at finding information, resources and leveraging relationships in the community to help me fulfill my goals here,” Vieira said. “There is no single answer for any kid, so the more information and resources I have, the better for my students.”

Information: Cameron Cushing, (208) 773-5773 ext. 3709 or: cameron.cushing@labor.idaho.gov