As the need for skilled manufacturers continues to grow, the Gene Haas Foundation has responded by supporting manufacturing training programs throughout North America and beyond. Part of their initiatives includes equipping students and job seekers with tools to discover the incredible world of manufacturing careers and technology. Edge Factor is proud to announce our partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation, as they sponsor Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) with 3-year Premium Edge Factor memberships to access all of our K-12 library tools and features!
“The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder, and owner of Haas Automation Inc., the mission of the Foundation is to introduce young people to the Manufacturing Industry and assist financially should they choose this career pathway. Edge Factor does an amazing job of providing a glimpse into the many Industries in manufacturing as well as makes the learning exciting and relevant.” Kathy Looman, Director of Education & Gene Haas Centers Naming Grants
Urban Youth Racing School Empowers Students with Career Exploration Tools
Educators from the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia, PA, are turning to Edge Factor to inspire students and parents with career exploration media and tools. Whether they are in the classroom or at home, every student can log in to Edge Factor’s online platform to access thousands of videos and activities that will guide them to launch rewarding training and career pathways.
UYRS was created to help students discover the many career opportunities they would otherwise not have access to. Utilizing their 23-year track record of success and their national recognition, they work to reverse “the plight of urban youth by creating opportunities, igniting careers, and transforming lives using motorsports.” UYRS partners and collaborates with companies in the automotive industry to create opportunities for students to explore and prepare to launch successful careers.
UYRS programs offer urban students the opportunity to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics via motorsports. These programs prepare students for a fast-paced career in the competitive world of professional racing, as they create a real student racing team. Tech experts, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other college mentors, university faculty and U.S. Navy engineers, introduce students to naval ship design, engine design and configuration, ship maintenance procedures and more. Academic training is combined with hands-on learning and site visits to active U.S. Naval Yards and HBCUs.
Edge Factor’s Career Journey
The Edge Factor library features thousands of videos, interactive activities, and educational lesson plans that focus on career exploration. The goal is to take learners of all ages on a journey from “I have no idea what I want to do with my life!” all the way to, “I’ve browsed the options, I’ve made informed decisions, and I’ve successfully launched a training and career pathway!” Edge Factor’s mission is to inspire people to explore, prepare, and connect on their career journey. All of the content and features included in the Edge Factor platform follows these 4 phases of the Career Journey: Inspiration, Exploration, Preparation, and Connection.
- Inspiration is all about helping students get EXCITED about their future and using the power of storytelling to open up students eyes to new possibilities. Edge Factor creates award winning films, short stories and documentaries that showcase teams of people working together to impact the world.
- In the Exploration phase, students dig deeper to explore what it's like to work in diverse industries and careers. Exploration includes Industry Overviews, hundreds of Career Profiles that showcase what a "day in the life" looks like in specific careers, virtual walk-and-talk tours in companies and schools, and more!
- The purpose of Edge Factor's Preparation content is to help students prepare for future success - at work and in life! We have videos, lesson plans, and assignable activities that teach students about Soft Skills, Financial Literacy, and how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) come alive in real-world careers.
- Connection is all about helping students to connect to local training and career opportunities. Edge Factor's Directory is a great tool for students and parents to browse local Schools, Training Programs, Companies, and Careers.
K-12 and Postsecondary schools, companies, organizations, and workforce development leaders partner with Edge Factor to help tackle workforce development. Together with our partners, Edge Factor provides regional solutions to national workforce development challenges.
“When it comes to workforce development, everyone has a role to play,” said Larissa Hofman, Vice President of Edge Factor. “We are excited to partner with the Gene Haas Foundation to inspire the next generation and build the workforce pipeline into manufacturing! With their premium Edge Factor memberships, UYRS, have access to thousands of e-learning tools, videos, activities and lesson plans. We are excited to support them with tools to showcase career opportunities and technology in manufacturing.”
Questions? Feedback? Learn more!
Learn more about Gene Haas Foundation, and Urban Youth Racing School, today! If you are interested in learning more about Edge Factor, you can create your free account or email us at info@edgefactor.com
