Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/245761
Bright, shiny future c o n t i n u e d with the presidents of NWTC and Lakeshore Technical College and some area economic development leaders to discuss ideas. At the time, Rauscher was the only manufacturer at the table. So that March, they invited six companies to join them. In June, they met again with 12 manufacturers, and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA) was born. "Our whole vision focus is to get people excited about manufacturing careers," Franz says. Now, nearly eight years later, the organization has 83 manufacturer members, 21 associate members and 19 affiliate members such as economic development agencies and chambers of commerce. And it has made significant headway in its goal of updating the dark and dirty image that industry leaders fear is keeping young people away from manufacturing careers. Inspiring at a younger age L ori Peacock, career and technical education partnerships and program director at Green Bay Area Public Schools, is seeing evidence of an image change on a number of different levels. "Our principals are seeing manufacturing differently, our school counselors are seeing manufacturing differently, and so are Also in the works for NEWMA: R ecent efforts of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance also include: » Alliance members met with state Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers to see how soft skills such as communication and professionalism can be addressed in the K-12 curriculum. The alliance also works closely with NEW ERA, a coalition of the technical, two-year and four-year schools in the New North. » The Manufacturing Partnership Education Awards, held in October by the alliance, raised more than $6,000 for college scholarships with its live and silent auctions, recognizing educators and manufacturers who are collaborating to showcase manufacturing as a viable career choice. » The Manufacturing First Expo & Conference, held Oct. 31, drew 134 exhibitors, 800 registered attendees and 200 high school students and teachers. » The NEWMA website is being redesigned to appeal to job seekers, member manufacturers and the 18- to 29-year-old crowd. The alliance also is building its social media platform to help showcase the adult career pathways that are available to young people. » Manufacturers and educators have teamed up on a math video project that shares on-thejob math problems with students. "These are real problems that manufacturers have," Franz says. "They're not made up. In addition, we have a lesson plan for the math teacher, so the kids get an opportunity to learn about that career, too. … They're able to see what manufacturing's about and be aware of it." To see the math education videos, visit www.youtube.com and search "NEWMA math video." our instructors." Educators from the district have been touring manufacturing facilities, which helps tie the relevancy of the classroom to the world of work. "Last year, one of our math teachers from one of our high schools went to Georgia-Pacific, and he got back to school and said to his principal, 'I'll never teach math in the same way,'" says Peacock, who serves on the alliance's K-12 task force. The other thing Peacock has seen is the district providing more science, technology and math (STEM)-related courses and opportunities for kids. Southwest High School upgraded its technology hallway, and schools are offering classes such as industrial welding, blueprint reading and robotics. The district also is building a manufacturing learning lab at West High School that will open in October and will be a working job shop, similar to the one already established at Algoma High School (see Education & Training, page 14). These are just a few examples of partnerships between the alliance, educators and NWTC. "It's kind of this 'trifecta of goodness' with the school district, business and industry and postsecondary education all working together," Peacock says. "I found in Wisconsin a lot of awareness of the importance of manufacturing, which did give me some reason to be optimistic. There is that challenge of trying to persuade the community, elected officials and young people who may be considering careers there's a future in manufacturing, because for a long time it was kind of in doubt." – Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing in Washington, D.C. 10 | / insight on manufacturing • January 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g .c o m