Hundreds of promising young students will gather on April 21 at Sharonville Convention Center for the 33rd annual Career Development Conference (CDC) with Cincinnati Youth Collaborative’s Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG) program. Students will participate in team-building workshops led by professional coaches from the business community, attend an Appreciation Luncheon, and close the day with the Competitive Events Awards Ceremony. The conference brings together approximately 400 area high school students from three school districts: North College Hill, Winton Woods, and Cincinnati Public Schools.
Prior to the CDC, students participated in individual citywide competitive events, called Action Exams. These events give students the opportunity to apply the skills they have refined through the school year. The competitive event areas are: application completion, cover design, decision making, employability skills testing, interviewing, public speaking, service learning, telephone techniques, visual display. One last Action Exam, the Team Challenge, occurs at the CDC workshops. All competitions are judged by representatives of the local business community.
The Team Challenges are themed “Brawn,” “Beauty,” and “Brains.” Each challenge involves working as a team to create a business model corresponding to the theme – an exercise program, a yogurt shop, or a charter school, respectively. Students must decide business names, design logos, and create marketing plans. Teams will be coached and judged by groups of professionals with experience in the related business field.
At the Appreciation Luncheon, the top three placements in each competition will receive trophies during the Award Ceremony. The top two in public speaking will also be featured as Keynote Speakers. First place winners in all competitions go on to compete at the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates State Conference on May 9th.
Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates is an accredited in-school program equipping students with 37 core character competencies that prepare them for post-secondary pursuits, whether they be enrollment, employment, or enlistment. The JCG program an affiliate of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates program.
This year’s Career Development Conference is supported in part thanks to the generosity of Luxottica.
Photos from last year’s event:
