Ohio University Eastern recognizes Building Bridges to Careers with Community Partner Award

Ohio University Eastern partner Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) was recognized with an Outstanding Community Partner Award at the second annual Community Engagement Symposium on Friday, Sept. 29, at the Ohio University Inn. 

The Center for Campus and Community Engagement hosted the symposium featuring Ohio University’s inaugural awards ceremony recognizing the Community Partner Award Winners, recipients of the Sugar Bush Foundation’s partnership awards and winner of the Ohio Campus Compact’s Ping Community Service Award. The event also included professional development opportunities for Ohio University staff, faculty and community organizations through interactive workshops and networking opportunities. 

BB2C Executive Director Tasha Werry accepted the award at the Community Engagement Symposium. 

"BB2C is honored to receive this award. Partnering is fun and it is hard work, but the results for the rural teachers are more than worth it,” Werry said. “The ultimate goal is to reach more people in our community and to connect them in meaningful ways, and partnerships help to pool resources and increase our reach. Thank you so much for recognizing our work!"

The community partnership between Ohio University and BB2C aims to develop rural education by integrating community partnerships and career awareness into experiential, place-based learning through the use of a learning system called community and career connected learning (CCCL). Junior fellows work alongside seasoned Rural Teacher Fellows to empower students and bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunities. 

Through this partnership Ohio University and BB2C co-designed the OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship (RTF) program. The program provides outreach to schools and communities across the OHIO Regional Higher Education (RHE) service region which runs parallel to BB2C’s service region. The purpose of the fellowship is to assist early-career teachers in rural schools, helping them to integrate community partnerships and career awareness into experiential, place-based learning within their classrooms and school districts. CCCL intentionally disrupts threats to the viability of rural communities and rural schools by forming connections between educational institutions and communities. The RTF also engages OHIO RHE junior and senior teacher-candidates enrolled in Middle Childhood Education through the junior fellow and friends of fellowship opportunities.

Ohio University Eastern Associate Professor of Middle Childhood Education Jacqueline Yahn nominated BB2C for the Outstanding Community Partner Award. 

“BB2C is recognized as a leader in the state for their commitment to fostering partnerships that leverage the assets of rural communities and lead to community thriving. It is a privilege to be one of their partners in this work and it is through this partnership that our OHIO Rural Teacher Fellowship and affiliated teacher-education programming is possible,” Yahn said. “BB2C consistently engages partners in work that leads to successful students, prosperous businesses, and thriving rural communities. This aligns beautifully with our commitment in Regional Higher Education to rural community development.”

The five other community partners recognized at the event were Alexander School District, Lawrence County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Zanesville Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, Ross County Community Action-Head Start and Fairfield County Workforce Center.