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May 1, 2024
Summer Program Prioritizes Technical Skills, Safety, and Partnerships
Summer Program Prioritizes Technical Skills, Safety, and Partnerships
Belton, Texas - Workforce Solutions of Central Texas is thrilled to announce the continuation of the highly successful Wrenches to Wheels program, coupled with a significant expansion of program partnerships. We welcome United Way of Central Texas and Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center to our esteemed educational team. The United Way of Central Texas focuses on improving the building blocks of life and Education is one of their top priorities to achieve this goal.
Stephanie O’Banion, CEO of United Way of Central Texas, emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills for today’s youth, stating, “Problem-solving skills are critical for today’s youth to be successful. Through the Wrenches to Wheels program, we are not only building bikes, but also building essential life skills that will empower our Central Texas youth to navigate challenges and thrive in their future endeavors.”
These new partnerships reinforce our commitment to providing students with the essential resources needed for active participation in the program. In 2024 we are proud to announce the participation of Academy Independent School District, Belton Independent School District, Cameron Independent School District, and Gatesville Independent School District in this unique summer program.
Amidst the ongoing growth and demand for professional and technical jobs in Central Texas, currently totaling 7,644 occupations, the region has witnessed 2,825 unique job postings from employers in the past twelve months. Addressing this surge and projecting a 15% growth over the next five years, Workforce Solutions presents the summer program, "Wrenches to Wheels: Building Bikes and Building Skills." Collaborating with Central Texas school districts, the initiative guides middle school students through a comprehensive exploration of technical careers. Partnering students with community leaders as mentors, the program culminates in the hands-on experience of building a bike. This process imparts valuable problem-solving skills, mechanical aptitude, and attention to detail, which apply to various aspects of students' lives and future careers.
Thanks to the generous financial commitment from United Way of Central Texas, students will have the opportunity to own the bikes they construct with their mentors. Stephanie O’Banion, Executive Director of United Way, emphasizes the program's multifaceted impact, stating, "Partnering with Workforce Solutions not only provides students with career education but is an early step toward ensuring that students are surrounded by a community of support and succeed in life."
Building a bike is not only a fun and rewarding experience for students but also an educational one. Beyond the basic lessons in problem-solving and mechanical skills, the expanded partnership with Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center introduces a crucial element of bicycle safety. After completing the bike-building phase, students will receive additional instruction on safety from McLane Children’s Hospital, including the provision of bike helmets.
Krista Easley, Coordinator for Trauma Injury Prevention and Outreach at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center, sees real connectivity in this career exploration event, stating, "We are honored to partner with an initiative that meets a large spectrum of needs in the Central Texas community and focuses on a priority of Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center – preventing unintentional childhood injury."
Through the combined efforts of United Way of Central Texas and Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center, students participating in the program will not only leave with a bike and helmet but also gain a deeper understanding of how to ride safely and responsibly. Additionally, they will develop a greater awareness of technical careers and the skills required by those careers.
Wrenches to Wheels: Building Bikes and Building Skills is a career education initiative funded by the Jobs Ya’ll Grant provided to the Education Outreach Program of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas by the Texas Workforce Commission. The funding for bikes and equipment is generously provided by our community partners.
For more information, please contact:
Charley Ayres, Director of Industry/Education Partnerships
Workforce Solutions of Central Texas
254.742.4520
Charley.ayres@workforcesolutionsctx.com