Participate in a career exploration experience that highlights high-demand industries like manufacturing.

Learn more about a hands-on initiative addressing the talent needs of West Michigan manufacturers.

Partner with a local school and encourage your employees to mentor students of all ages.

Think "March is Reading Month." Introduce elementary students to manufacturing and read some of their favorite books.

Group tours are fun ways to engage kids of all ages. For the younger grades, think about having the kids complete a scavenger hunt during the tour. For the older kids, challenge them to connect what they are learning in school to what employees are doing.

Think First Robotics. Support a team financially or with mentors. Maybe invite the team into your facility to showcase what they've completed!

School supply drives, Toys for Tots, items for teacher appreciation week, sports equipment for gym classes, or library books - schools in all areas have needs. Find out what those are, and encourage employees to contribute! Make it fun! Maybe there is a drawing for an extra vacation day for someone who contributed? And when you donate the items, bring a whole team from your company to do so! Encourage all levels of the organization to get involved.

Whether elementary reading or high school math, all our school districts need tutors. Invite anyone to sign up to help tutor a young mind!

Host a table at parent-teacher conferences to hand out some goodies with your company logo and provide information to parents and guardians about job opportunities at your facility. You never know who might be looking for an opportunity!

Field trips are memorable for kids of all ages! Consider helping a classroom, grade, or school visit a museum and have employees sign up to join them as chaperones!

Judge school events such as spelling bees, talent shows, or science fairs - there are never enough volunteers in the schools. Encourage employees to sign up to be "local celebrity" judges at science fairs, spelling bees, or other events!

Highlight and celebrate good traits in students that you would want to see continue in the workforce. Sponsor school awards or ceremonies such as "Perfect Attendance" or graduations.

Provide job shadow opportunities - high schools around the area are looking for ways to integrate the workforce into their curriculum. Allow students to shadow various departments and see where their interests might lie!

Offer career speakers – have various team members speak to students about those careers and the many others that manufacturing offers.

Internships are a great way to expose youth to the manufacturing world. Provide high school and college internships in partnership with your local schools.

Share your company's job openings with your local schools. Schools can easily connect with their students' parents and guardians.

School clean up or community safety days are good for giving back to the community. Volunteer to clean up your local school.

JA is a great program that allows individuals the opportunity to teach and mentor students. Contact local school and see if they are participating, get a list of classes needed, and open up the opportunity to teach to all of your employees.

Consider having employees volunteer for school-family events such as "Fun Night" or field days.

A great way to connect with those soon to graduate or parents of students is to host a school-specific job fair. Get together some local employers and offer hours for juniors or seniors to look at opportunities for the summer, co-op, or after graduation.

West Michigan has some wonderful career technology education programs. Engage with school districts to find talent, mentor students, or do presentations specific to your industry.

Not all students are college-bound and even fewer participate in "signing day" to be student-athletes. It's a great way to introduce new employees to your company and make them feel welcome among their new peers.