Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 14 UCW JULY 28 - AUGUST 3, 2021 EDUCATION e world has changed dramatically over the past year. We have faced unprecedented challenges that affected every single aspect of life. We have adapted, overcome and improvised on a daily basis in order to cope with the new normal of life. From wearing masks in public and keeping a safe distance to complete isolation, people have made major adjustments to their lives in order to cope with the pandemic. And, sadly, for many, the situation created by the pandemic has ultimately led to a desperate struggle for survival. Fortunately, we live in an era of technology. We are able to do things now that were impossible for past generations. We can telework, order food online, Skype, Face- time and teleconference from our homes or even from the palms of our hands. Even during times of isolation, we are able to stay virtually connected and be productive. roughout the pandemic, a good number of people were able to continue working and feed themselves, thanks to the advances of the last cen- tury and especially the last few decades. We now take things such as cars, computers, smartphones and the internet for granted, but these items have made coping with the pandemic a com- pletely different experience when compared to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. We still face challenges, however, and it doesn't look like things are going to go back to what we remember as normal for a while. To face these challenges, we are going to need fresh new minds to invent new ways of doing things. We now have a generation of young people who grew up in a world of technology and have an innate understanding of how to live in a cyber-connected world. Unfortunately, technology can be a two-edged sword, and with so many distractions, many are fall- ing short of their true potential. e U.S. education system has been pushing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and careers for years because of the shortage of people in these degree fields. Now that we are faced with new challenges stem- ming from the pandemic, we need STEM-educated individuals now even more than ever. Who will research new cures, invent new ways to work and communicate, or design the next generation of ventilators? An old adage (late 1800s) states, "Everything that can be invented has been invented." But these words are far from the truth. ink of everything that has been invented since the late 1800s. Had this been true back then, we would still be riding horses for primary transportation and reading by candlelight. Without the technological advances of the last cen- tury, our current crisis would have been much more difficult to navigate. So, here's a call for individuals to accept the chal- lenge to become the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers. You may be the one who invents something new that positively changes our world. FTCC's Associate Degree Engineering program can help you begin this exciting journey. Fall classes begin Aug. 16. Apply for Fall classes today and allow FTCC to help you find your way forward. For more information visit https://www.faytechcc.edu/. Find your way forward with a rewarding STEM career by JAIME VILLAMIL Dr. Larry Keen, President of Fayetteville Technical Community College, is calling on adults across the greater Fayetteville region to visit BetterSkillsBetter- Jobs.com as a first step to gain the skills they need to secure the jobs they want. "After a year of challenges like no other, we know most adults understand it's time to skill up, retool, and retrain — either to advance in their current careers or to change careers entirely," Dr. Keen said. "So we are making an extra push this summer to reach out to and inform as many adults as possible about the variety of fast, flexible and affordable programs we offer. "From allied health training, to automotive sys- tems technology, to systems security and analysis, and many more programs, our courses are a direct pipeline to many of our region's top employers," Dr. Keen said. "at's why we hope everyone will visit BetterSkillsBetterJobs.com today to quickly connect with us and explore all of the opportunities we offer that can lead to better skills, a better job, a bigger paycheck and an even brighter future." FTCC is a regional source for education and training in Cumberland County, with campuses in Fayetteville and Spring Lake, and an educational training center on Fort Bragg. e college offers more than 200 job-ready programs. e Better Skills. Better Jobs. campaign is a pilot project launched in early 2021 across five North Carolina community colleges to proactively reach out to and attract more adults back to college. Other key funders and partners for the initiative include the John M. Belk Endowment and myFutureNC. "e John M. Belk Endowment is pleased to part- ner with Fayetteville Technical Community College and four other outstanding community colleges to catalyze and supercharge their efforts to recruit and support adult students," said MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk En- dowment. "In a matter of months on a community college campus, adult learners can acquire skills and credentials that can change their families' economic trajectory." "e vast majority of higher-wage jobs today require more than a high school diploma, but that is something that less than half of North Carolinians in this age range currently have," said Cecilia Holden, President and CEO of myFutureNC. "We know bet- ter skills lead to better jobs and to a stronger and more economically vibrant North Carolina. We are very pleased to be partnering on this important new initiative." e John M. Belk Endowment is a private family foundation committed to transforming postsec- ondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina's evolving workforce needs. Its mission is aligned with the vision of its founder, the late John M. Belk, who served four terms as mayor of Char- lotte and was CEO of the department store company Belk, Inc. Now led by Mr. Belk's daughter, MC Belk Pilon, the John M. Belk Endowment continues to partner with innovative, results-oriented programs in North Carolina to further Mr. Belk's values, legacy, and focus on the value of education as a means to personal fulfillment and community vitality. For more information, please visit jmbendowment.org. myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit with the goal to create a stronger, more competitive North Carolina. myFutureNC is working across sectors and in communities throughout the state to close gaps in the education pathway, to promote alignment between educational programming and business/ industry needs, and to ultimately improve educa- tional opportunities. For more information, please visit myfuturenc.org. For more information about FTCC's Better Skills. Better Jobs. initiative, visit BetterSkillsBetterJobs. com/FTCC/. FTCC launches campaign to attract more adult learners back to college a STAFF REPORT The Better Skills.Better Jobs campaign aims to get adults the instruction and job skills that lead to better employ- ment opportunities. (Photo courtesy FTCC) JAIME VILLAMIL, FTCC Engineering Instructor. Comments? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.