Last month, St. Louis served as a hub of creativity and innovation as over 80 high school students gathered for a CAPS Network challenge event. Students from St. Louis CAPS, Parkway Spark!, and the Four Rivers Career Center came together in a unique opportunity to tackle a pressing issue: transportation barriers preventing high school and young adults from entering the construction and engineering industries. This challenge highlighted the essence of CAPS Network’s mission—preparing students for the future through real-world learning experiences.
A Collaborative Effort with Real-World Impact
The event, held in collaboration with The Construction Forum as the lead organization, was supported by a coalition of partners including the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, the Construction Careers Development Initiative, and United Way of Greater St. Louis. Additionally, American Student Assistance played a crucial role as a partner and sponsor, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration in tackling community challenges.
The challenge? Students needed to find fun and creative ways to tell kids from Gen Z and Gen Alpha about the resources available to help them enter construction and engineering careers. A big focus was on fixing transportation problems that can make it hard for young people to get to training and jobs.
Setting the Stage for Innovation
St. Louis-based marketing expert Koran Bolden kicked off the day. He shared actionable tips on leveraging social media and crafting impactful messages for target audiences. Bolden’s words energized the students, setting the tone for the high-energy day ahead.
Students were tasked to ideate solutions using the design thinking process, a problem-solving methodology that emphasizes empathy, brainstorming, and rapid prototyping. Teams were intentionally mixed. By combining participants from the three programs to encourage fresh perspectives and diverse collaboration, participants w
ere able to apply the durable skills they learn in their CAPS programs.
The fast-paced event provided a glimpse into the high-pressure scenarios professionals often face. Students had to work together, merge their unique strengths, and channel their creativity into actionable solutions—all within a tight timeframe.
Innovative Solutions from Future Leaders
Despite the time constraints, the students rose to the challenge, generating a range of creative solutions. Proposals included:
- In-Person Events: Community-building activities such as interactive workshops, pop-up events, and friendly competitions.
- Social Media Campaigns: Focused messages targeting Gen Z and Alpha on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Students emphasized the importance of bite-sized, visually engaging content.
- Social Challenges: Viral campaigns that encourage participation while promoting awareness about opportunities in the industry.
- Mobile Applications: Tools designed to provide resources like transportation information, career guidance, and training program details in a user-friendly format.
The ideas weren’t just innovative; they were grounded in a deep understanding of their peers’ behavior and preferences. The students’ ability to identify practical yet impactful strategies was a testament to their talent and potential.
The Thrill of the Pitch
The high point of the event came as teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges in a series of three-minute presentations. The judges, a mix of industry leaders and community partners, evaluated the solutions based on creativity, understanding of the challenge, and potential impact.
The competition structure added an extra layer of excitement. After the initial round, the top four teams presented their ideas to the entire group, giving every participant a chance to learn from their peers’ innovative approaches. This format underscored the collaborative spirit of the CAPS Network, where competition can serve as a springboard for collective growth and learning.
In the end, two standout teams walked away with prizes, but the true reward was the confidence gained, skills developed, and the realization that their voices could make a difference in tackling real-world challenges.
A Model for Transformative Education
This event was more than a competition—it was a living example of how experiential learning transforms students’ education. It empowered participants to:
- Engage in Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: By working with peers from other programs, students experienced the benefits of diverse thinking and teamwork.
- Apply the Design Thinking Process: This iterative approach encourages empathy-driven solutions, fostering innovation and critical thinking.
- Gain Real-World Skills: From ideation to presentation, students practiced skills like problem-solving, communication, and time management.
- Network with Industry Leaders: Exposure to organizations like The Construction Forum and United Way offered insights into potential career pathways and professional connections.
For the organizations involved, the event demonstrated the power of engaging young people in shaping the future. It also highlighted the importance of listening to the perspectives of those who will inherit these industries.
Looking to the Future
This St. Louis challenge event showcased the potential of the CAPS Network to address real-world problems through student-driven innovation. By focusing on a pressing issue like transportation barriers in the construction and engineering industries, it also underscored the importance of creating equitable opportunities for all.
This is just one chapter in the larger CAPS Network story, but it’s a powerful reminder of the impact of experiential, student-centered learning. We can’t wait to see what these young leaders accomplish next.
Written by CAPS Network and ChatGPT assisted.
