Career Development Conference

The Birmingham Education Foundation (Ed) is dedicated to increasing the number of students in the Birmingham City Schools that are on the path to college, career, and life readiness. We believe that this is only possible by cultivating a diverse network of people who demand excellence for our students and inspire others to do the same. We believe Network members:

To actively cultivate the Network, we provide direct programming for students and fun and interactive opportunities for Network members to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. We serve as Connectors among five different stakeholder groups – students, educators, families, local residents, and community partners– bringing them together to create a new operating culture that sparks organic and objective- driven visions to increase student preparedness for college, career, and life.

Network initiatives fall under the headings of Educate Local and Raise Up!

Educate Local is a specific set of innovative and high-value opportunities for Birmingham City School students to engage in meaningful and authentic college & career access and essential skills training; engage Network members in activities developed to address strategic student-centered Network priorities; and expand the personal networks of our students, community members, and stakeholders.

Raise Up! initiatives provide the weekly and monthly time, space, and set of practices which have proven to: encourage relationships to be formed across lines of difference; surface Network member ideas, concerns, and/or opportunities; and give Network members the opportunity to exchange their gifts and talents to meet community needs and participate in collective action.

The Ed Network is supported by a growing number of Network Connectors and stewards who help to facilitate the many connections that are being made everyday.