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Community Corner

Applications Now Being Accepted For College & Career Access Project

Slots are still available in the new College & Career Access Project (CCAP), a collaborative effort of North Shore Community College and Northeast Arc, made possible by a grant from The Peter & Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.

CCAP, launching this September, is designed to prepare young adults (18 to 26 years old) with developmental, intellectual or learning disabilities for careers in specific fields. This new program will provide the necessary educational and hands-on practical experience that will assist people in securing jobs in their chosen pathways by the end of the year. The successful student will have a definite advantage entering the work force.

“Through surveys, meetings and feedback from students, their families and staff, and evaluating the current workforce needs, three pathways of Horticulture, Canine and Feline Care and Arts/Entrepreneurship were selected,” said Lea Hill, CCAP Coordinator, North Shore Community College. “Each of these has many possibilities for employment, and for the entrepreneur, each of these tracks can provide the skills to go out and create specialized business opportunities.”

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Applicants must have a documented developmental, intellectual or learning disability and be ready for the challenge of the non-credit college program. They also should be comfortable being independent on a college campus and interested in work experience. CCAP students take three classes specific to their chosen field and an internship seminar each semester. The classroom experience includes syllabi, textbooks, homework assignments and projects.

In addition, CCAP connects students to the workplace through a structured internship in the student’s field of study for eight hours per week, on-site support that fades to independent work over the course of the year, and an internship seminar. Students will receive support throughout the program to meet the academic and workplace expectations.

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Choosing the Horticulture track may lead to a job working as a landscaper, at a nursery, a garden center or on a farm. This track is also the perfect stepping stone for someone wanting to work at a florist or at one of the many industrial complexes in the area that hire people to take care of their indoor plantings.

The Animal Care track opens the door for someone looking to work at a doggie day care, a grooming center or a veterinarian office. For the entrepreneur who loves animals, the dog walking business can be very profitable as well!

The Arts Based track is equally expansive. Students will be exposed to a variety of mediums, such as paint, pottery, and chair caning, focusing on the fundamentals of art and has classwork that will introduce basic accounting principles, on-line marketing and the use of social media. Montserrat College of Art in Beverly is a partner for this track.

“The North Shore is rich in opportunities for a person who wants to go out on their own, or be employed by one of the many businesses involved with the local creative economy,” said Tim Brown, Director of Day Services, Northeast Arc. “Instructors working with the students will not only focus on assisting them in improving their own preferred medium, but also in finding paid employment that will complement their skills and abilities. The North Shore is rich with opportunities for people to become employed within businesses that pair nicely with the skills this curriculum will offer.”

“We live in an area filled with museums, galleries and historical places that have needs for employees,” added Brown. “There are commercial potters, glass blowers, furniture makers, restorers and repair specialists. There are opportunities for matters and framers, a skill that is in high demand. Media, marketing, and web design are also growing industries in the area that require employees with a variety of skills and talents to succeed.”

The Creative Economy Association of the North Shore, which is based at Montserrat College of Art, reports that the creative economy represents about 10-12% of private employment on the North Shore, representing 2,200 businesses and 20,000 employees. The creative economy generates $3 billion in sales. These statistics continue to increase each year and demonstrate the need to have a workforce prepared and ready to support this ever growing sector.

CCAP is a noncredit, tuition based program. Scholarship assistance is available. Interested students should act now. For more information and to apply for admission to the College and Career Access Project, please visit www.northshore.edu/ccap. Employers interested in providing internships for CCAP participants please contact Dylan Girard at 978 624-3062.

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