The manufacturing sector employs tens of thousands of Long Islanders, from defense and aerospace, to biomedical, food, and beverage. Many students, teachers, and parents are unaware of all that is produced in their backyards, and the many jobs with higher-than-average salaries. Every October, Manufacturing Month programs try to reverse this trend.
The trade association IgniteLI advocates for manufacturers and takes an active role in planning Manufacturing Month events. They launched an outreach project working with Dr. Subrina Oliver of O-High Technologies with a 2021 goal to reach 4000+ students in 12 underinvested school districts. With a mixture of in-person and virtual events and site visits, this project introduces middle and high school students from minority communities to impressive local companies that produce goods for national and international consumption.
By building awareness of these careers, students can see the real-world applications of their STEM learning. There is a win for businesses that engage with these programs as they introduce themselves to the future workforce and can start building connections to attract local talent.
