Kalamazoo RESA Career Connect

22/09/2026

Helping Gru build a new laboratory? Just another day for the Career Connect Discovery Lab crew! 🧪

Our team recently stopped by Parchment North Elementary for a "Minions at Work!" takeover, turning hands-on career exploration into a total blast.

Students explored four different career zones by constructing catapults, designing billboards, reviewing Minion resumes, and crafting secret antidote bracelets.

We loved seeing these learners jump into problem-solving and team up to solve Gru's biggest lab challenges.

Parchment School District

21/09/2026

A huge thank you to Ralph Moyle, Inc. for donating a semi-truck for our CTE Heavy Equipment students to work on this year!

This generous donation gives our students immediate, hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. Partnerships like this make real-world career training possible!

21/09/2026

A huge congratulations to Molly Fitz Henry, program coordinator with Kalamazoo RESA Career Connect, on being selected as Michigan Works Southwest's Shining Star!

As a compassionate and visionary leader, Molly has transformed the MyCITY program to empower hundreds of young people across four counties. Leading with genuine empathy, authenticity, and a deep commitment to elevating youth voice, she builds trust, advocates fiercely for others, and creates a supportive environment where both young people and colleagues thrive.

⭐ Congratulations to our August Shining Star, Molly Fitz-Henry! ⭐

Molly, a Coordinator with KRESA Career Connect, is an exceptional leader whose dedication to youth, commitment to innovation, and compassion for those around her make a lasting impact. Under her leadership, MyCITY has grown into an extraordinary experience, empowering hundreds of young people across Southwest Michigan to find their voice, explore opportunities, and shape their futures.

Molly leads with empathy, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. We are proud to recognize her as a Michigan Works! Southwest Shining Star!

19/09/2026

Did you know that our Education for the Arts (EFA) program awards more than $200,000 every year in grants for students, classroom educators, and EFA Teaching Artists?

Elizabeth Moss, a student at Portage Central High School, received the Student Artistic Equipment grant last school year, allowing her to upgrade her flute. A family member said that Elizabeth "is looking forward to improving her talent and learning more with the new instrument. She absolutely loves it!"

These grants ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a student's artistic passion and potential.

Information on our next grant cycle will be available in December, so be sure to follow this page for updates. In the meantime, learn more about the program using the link in the comments.



Portage Public Schools

19/09/2026

Happy National Dance Day from students in our Education for the Arts (EFA) Dance classes! 🩰

We offer high school dance classes at schools throughout Kalamazoo County. Learn more about our EFA programming using the link in the comments.

18/09/2026

Explore! Create! Perform!

Continuing our celebrations for National Arts in Education Week, we're spotlighting Education for the Arts (EFA)'s PACE Program.

The Professional Artists and Cooperating Educators (PACE) Program provides K-8 learners with free in-school creative movement and drama residencies taught by professional Teaching Artists.

These residencies teach learners the elements of the art form, emphasize artistic exploration and the creative process, and celebrate the students' creative work.

Learn more about our EFA PACE Program using the link in the comments!

17/09/2026

Art is about process, choice, and connection. 🎭🎶

In honor of National Arts in Education Week, we’re spotlighting our Education for the Arts (EFA)’s Alternative Arts Initiative (AAI)!

This program brings professional Teaching Artists directly into alternative schools and special education classrooms to lead interactive workshops in dance, theater, music, and visual art.

Instead of focusing on a perfect final project, AAI empowers students to make creative choices and build confidence through the arts at no cost to their schools.

Check out the link in the comments to learn more about AAI!

17/09/2026

Happy Day! 🌱

From CTE Horticulture and Conservation Biology to Veterinary Science, our Agriculture and Natural Resources educators are inspiring the next generation of leaders, scientists, and growers right here in Kalamazoo County.

Ag education isn't just farming. It’s hands-on science, technology, and real-world skills that prepare students for growing career fields.

Learn more about our CTE Agriculture and Natural Resources programs using the link in the comments!

16/09/2026

Art has the power to spark curiosity and critical thinking.

Continuing our celebrations for National Arts in Education Week, we're spotlighting Education for the Arts (EFA)'s Aesthetic Education Program. For over two decades, it has brought hands-on, discovery-based art learning to students across Kalamazoo County!

The program pairs teachers with professional EFA Teaching Artists to build custom study units around live performances and exhibitions. Students don't just observe artwork; they create, analyze, and reflect on it in meaningful ways.

Learn more about this program using the link in the comments!

16/09/2026

2 materials. 18 minutes. Maximum teamwork!

Students in our Construction Trades class collaborated with their new crew members to build the tallest free-standing structure out of marshmallows and spaghetti.

What a fun way to teach them how to strategize, tackle a problem, and work together!