For years, members of the Can Do! Youth Pillar have brainstormed ways to improve the connection between the youth in the community and those that work outside the school district. This winter, the Pillar took an important first step.
Through the creation of the Coffee with the Community series, a partnership between Charlotte High School, the Can Do! Youth Pillar and Fay’s Evelyn Bay, students have the opportunity to spend the morning getting to know someone in the business community. The seven-part series introduces high school students to different business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders in Charlotte to share some of their experiences and perspectives, in an informal setting, on life after high school.
“Part of this is showing the students that there are opportunities in small towns like Charlotte,” said BJ Behnke, a member of the Youth Pillar. “You don’t have to leave to find opportunities. This also helps the students build their network at an early age.”
Fay Binkowski, owner of Fay’s Evelyn Bay said she got on board with the project to increase awareness among students of some of the downtown businesses.
“It’s nice to see kids in our downtown businesses,” Binkowski said. “At the first one, there was a senior that wasn’t aware there was even a coffee shop downtown. Getting that exposure is good.”
Charlotte High School principal, Bill Barnes said, the program is a great opportunity to get high school students to play an active role in the community.
“I think it’s important for high school students to not only see what options are available to them, but also to see how business leaders in our community have taken advantage of those opportunities,” Barnes said. “It’s an opportunity for our students to understand what it’s like to be in the business community as well as understand that the high school fits into a bigger community.”
Coffee with the Community is open to CHS juniors and seniors currently enrolled in junior and senior seminar. Students sign up for at least one of the seven sessions and Barnes said the school is exploring the idea of a career fair at the end of the series so more students have access to local business professionals.
“I would love for it to continue,” Barnes said. “The kids seem to really like it.”
Mike Rodocker, manager of Mid State Title and owner of Mike’s Sports Page in Charlotte, used the opportunity to talk to the kids about the importance family support and making the right connections was in his success.
“Putting yourself around the right people is pretty important,” Rodocker said during his presentation on Thursday, Feb. 20. “Family support in anything you try to do is important. So, lean on them for advice when you can.”
The series is held the first and third Thursday of each month, through the first Thursday in May, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Fay’s Evelyn Bay.
