For Information Contact: 

John Holt
793-6037

Kay Clements
793-8684

Eannace: Employer-Educator Partnership Boosts Opportunities for Youth



Joining the County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr., are the student speakers at the Call Mohawk Valley Home celebration.  Pictured from left are:  Gabrielle White, Whitesboro; Megan Langone, Whitesboro; County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr.; Thomas Heacock, Holland Patent.


 Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr., today urged employers and educators to continue the partnership that has helped hundreds of Oneida County
young people preview the careers offered by Oneida County employers.

"We have begun the work of building a better tomorrow, and all of you here today are a part of that achievement," Eannace told a "Call Mohawk Valley Home" Breakfast
Celebration at the Hotel Utica, attended by about 150 people including employers, students and educators.

"In the past two years, we have opened the eyes of our young people to the opportunities they have in Oneida County," Eannace said. "The partnership among everyone here is a solid foundation for the future. We must build upon that foundation to retain one of Oneida County’s most important resources – our young people."

Eannace reminded employers and students of many "small victories" that have helped high school students explore careers in education, manufacturing and the building trades, as well learn about careers at a wide range of technology, health care and other employers.

"Through the Business to High School component of ‘Call Mohawk Valley Home,’ hundreds of students across Oneida County have participated in career exploration through job shadowing at work sites and meeting employers right at their schools," Eannace said. "Our Web site attracts at least 11,000 ‘hits’ per month. We are getting out the message both to the people who live here and those who are outside of the Mohawk Valley that this region has opportunities."

"When we work together for the sake of the future, we succeed," he said. "The proof of that is in this room today, and in the hundreds of young people who have a positive image of their home towns."

Eannace said the celebration reflects the success of "Call Mohawk Valley Home." "Improving our self-image and our students’ awareness of local opportunities is a long-term campaign," he said. "We are making excellent progress."

The School and Business Alliance (SABA) has been a major partner in the effort, said John Holt, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board, who oversees Oneida County’s "Call Mohawk Valley Home" initiative.

"Through SABA’s efforts, our young people get to learn about careers, and the growing number of high-paying options open to them in this area," Holt said. "When we show young
people the careers open to them in this region, they are interested in a future in the Mohawk Valley."

"This area will continue to revive and recover," Holt told the youth and adults at the breakfast, "because so many of you here today believe in the mission – that we must work together, that the future is more important than the past, that there are no insignificant people in our community, and that by our actions, we can build a community where everyone can live,
work and dream."

Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Steven Kalies said that the students benefit greatly from programs such as SABA, the Regional Program for Excellence and the New Visions Program.

"Students who get a chance to preview careers and make connections with employers have a strong motivation to reach their goals. They understand the world of work better, they achieve even higher than they did before and they have a very positive outlook on their future," he said. "Teamwork and sharing are fundamental to the mission of everything we do at BOCES. Kay Clements, the Executive Director of SABA, has done a wonderful job of bringing employers and students together. This helps the students, the employers and our community."

Students said the programs are valuable.

"Our community has a plethora of undiscovered career opportunities. In fact, many are unaware of the multitude of higher-paying jobs in the area," said Megan Langone of Whitesboro, representing the Regional Program for Excellence, who said an internship with the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce opened her eyes to the tremendous assets of the region.

Thomas Heacock of Holland Patent, representing SABA, said his experience in shadowing the work of local neurosurgeons was invaluable, and made him even more interested in pursuing a career in medicine. "What I got out of the four surgeries I witnessed was far more interesting and educational than anything a textbook could offer."

"The chance to work hands-on with professionals in an engineering setting, and work on projects that had a true value to the city, was wonderful," said Gabrielle White of Whitesboro,
representing the New Visions program. "This was an opportunity most high school seniors don’t experience in a typical day."

"Call Mohawk Valley Home" is a cooperative effort involving government, education, business and the community to grow the region’s workforce and population, and improve the region’s self-image.

(Students wanting information on any of the career exploration programs through Oneida County BOCES are urged to contact SABA Executive Director
Kay Clements at 793-8684.)