KCC's purpose is to align with local municipalities, private foundations and commercial companies in providing under-represented youths, special needs and young adults with the skills, self-confidence, training and mentorship to succeed in the creative, the arts and technology fields.
Goals and Objective Outcomes
- Local Business Engagement: Identify at least sixty percent of participating businesses will come from the key opportunity low-income zip codes. The KCC program will encourage local employers to offer mentorships, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities for program participants.
- Multiplicity Participation: KCC will provide tech-based education and credentialing programs targeting underserved groups including youth, workers, and the unemployed.
- Successful Track Record: KCC expects six hundred residents to attend the center each year. The monthly estimated average is fifty residents and future students. Four hundred attendees will gain career skills. The monthly estimated average is fifty residents and future students.
Additionally, our goal and objective is that fifty students and residents will find jobs, apprenticeships, or enter credentialing programs.
Primary Mission and Objectives
- Build Awareness: Demonstrate the full spectrum of career opportunities in the creative tech industry made possible through various credentials, technical certifications, and micro-learning programs.
- Challenge Traditional Biases: Educate the public on career possibilities in the tech industry without a four-year degree emphasizing the power of credentials, apprenticeships, and other non-traditional learning methods.
- Identify Interests and Strengths: Assist participants in exploring their talents and passions within arts and technology, giving them the confidence and tools to advance their skills.
- Mentorship and Role Modeling: Connect participants with diverse mentors in creative tech fields who can provide guidance, encouragement, and career insights.
- Financial Accessibility: Make participation in the program financially accessible through local municipalities stipends, internships, and low-cost learning models, ensuring equitable opportunities for those in underprivileged areas.
- Practical Experience: Offer hands-on training and real-world projects in partnership with local businesses to allow participants to gain industry experience.
- Foster Lifelong Learning: Encourage participants to view themselves as lifelong learners that are ready to adapt and grow in response to industry advancements and technological evolution.
Target Audience
- Teens and Young Adults (16 to 30 years): Focus on K12 students, recent high school graduates, and those seeking career changes, especially in underserved zip codes.
- Community Partners and Local Employers: Companies in the creative technology space, local businesses, insurance, healthcare, finance/banking, retailers, state/local gov’t agencies, and educational institutions who are looking to diversify their talent pools and offer opportunities to the next generation of creative tech and arts professionals.
- Schools and Nonprofits: Collaborations with schools, community centers, and nonprofit organizations that focus on youth and young adults’ education, mentoring, and career exploration.
Program Structure
INTRODUCTORY PHASE (AWARENESS AND EXPLORATION)
- Workshops and Information Sessions: Host free community events that provide insight into creative tech and arts careers, featuring guest speakers, role models, and industry professionals.
- Industry Panels and Virtual Webinars: Collaborate with local and national companies to discuss how they integrate the arts with technology and the types of career paths available.
- Interactive Experiences: Set up hands-on learning environments (e.g., VR, animation studios, 3D printing) to engage participants and introduce them to the tools used in creative arts and tech.
CREDENTIALING AND LEARNING (BUILDING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS)
- Certification Programs: Offer short-term tech training programs and credentials (e.g., coding bootcamps, design thinking workshops, digital marketing, or tech art classes) in partnership with accredited platforms.
- Partnership with Local Colleges and Vocational Schools: Offer hybrid learning models where participants can earn industry-recognized certifications or associate degrees in creative tech.
- Online Learning Platforms: Provide access to digital learning resources, including video tutorials, coding challenges, and design exercises.
MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING (CONFIDENCE BUILDING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT)
- Mentorship Circles: Create small groups of industry professionals and students to foster one-on-one mentoring. This helps participants see themselves in the industry and gain actionable career advice.
- Role Models in Arts and Tech: Feature a multiplicity of role models from all backgrounds who have successfully navigated creative arts and tech careers to inspire and motivate participants.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Internships and Stipends: Collaborate with local tech startups, media companies, and creative studios to offer paid internships, stipends, or job-shadowing opportunities. Interns will work on real-world projects related to arts and technology.
- Job Placement Assistance: Provide career counseling, resume building, and job interview preparation, along with a job placement network that connects participants with local businesses in need of arts and tech talent.
ONGOING ENGAGEMENT (LIFELONG LEARNING AND GROWTH)
- Arts and Tech Talks Networking Events: Organize monthly meetups or digital conferences to showcase new trends and innovations in the arts and technology, ensuring that participants stay informed of industry developments.
- Alumni Community: Foster a strong alumnus network where past participants can stay in touch with mentors, offer advice to newer cohorts, and share job opportunities.
- Skill Refresher Programs: Offer free or low-cost access to workshops that focus on updating skills in response to changing industry demands.