EO Annual Report

Helping Students Picture Their Futures Locally

One of the biggest challenges local high school students face is understanding what careers are truly available in their region. Thanks to EO’s Career Commons, Adriana Cox, a workforce engagement coordinator with Bristol Virginia Public Schools, says her students can now experience their career options firsthand.

30% of young adults aged 16-24 are the fastest growing demographic to leave the region

Career Commons, located inside EO’s Workforce and Childhood Development Hub in Abingdon, Virginia, gives students a chance to explore local job opportunities through interactive career “labs” designed with regional employers. Each lab consists of a building facade, an interior, and hands-on activities tied to that career path. For example, a grocery store lab might have a cashier simulation, while a dental lab could have a teeth cleaning activity. Cox says it is the hands-on nature of these activities that sets Career Commons apart from any other experiences students in the region have access to. “Students these days learn by doing, not just hearing or seeing,” Cox said. “Visiting Career Commons bridges the gap between what they are learning in the classroom and what they can experience in the world of work.” EO’s Career Commons serves students from third grade through recent high school graduates. A visit to the center looks different based on age, with the younger students focusing more on career discovery, and the older students preparing real-world materials, like resumes, and practicing job interview skills. Cox has visited the center multiple times with different groups of students. She says she hopes the experience encourages students to look ahead and consider what kind of life they want after school and identify the skills they will need to get there. “Career Commons gives students the opportunity to be

“Career Commons gives students the opportunity to be hands-on with their futures” -Adriana Cox