Explore two outstanding 2025 MCEA Project Award-winning initiatives that demonstrate how Community Education can lead innovative solutions to workforce challenges while strengthening support systems for children, families, and communities. This engaging showcase features:
North Branch Area Public Schools – Childcare Champions Training Day (Presenter: Erica Bjerketvedt) – Discover how Community Education partnered with county agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and higher education to address the local childcare shortage through professional development, provider support, and strategic community collaboration.
Anoka-Hennepin Community Education – Adventures Plus – SAC Social Work Hybrid Internship Program (Presenter: Julie Morris) – Learn how an innovative partnership between School Age Care and the district's social work department created paid hybrid internships that strengthen staffing, support youth social-emotional learning, and develop the next generation of school social workers.
These award-winning projects illustrate how Community Education can move beyond traditional programming to become a catalyst for workforce development, community partnerships, and sustainable solutions to today's most pressing challenges.
Participants will:
Learn how strategic partnerships across education, government, nonprofits, and business can address complex community needs.
Explore innovative workforce development models that strengthen both Community Education programs and the broader community.
Discover practical strategies for recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality staff through creative partnerships and internship programs.
Gain replicable ideas for positioning Community Education as a leader in solving regional challenges while expanding services and improving outcomes for children and families.
Leave with actionable examples of award-winning programs that can be adapted and implemented in districts of all sizes.
