Hopes & Dreams: Connecting Kids/Families to a Brighter Future
Team members: Pierre Brewton, Taylor Dement, Chantel Greenfield, Alysa Handelsman, Chandra Jones, Andrew McMillan
Hopes & Dreams: Connecting Kids/Families to a Brighter Future supports the development of soft skills and early career awareness for elementary students, culminating in a family-focused Career Day that celebrates students’ aspirations. The project partners with Mary H. Wright Elementary Kids Club participants to enhance and expand their existing Career Connections program for 5th graders, offering hands-on learning experiences that connect academic skills, personal character development, and real-world career pathways.
Career Connections introduces students to diverse local career opportunities through independent research, guest speakers, field trips, and structured classroom learning facilitated by Wofford College students. Throughout the curriculum, students identify their personal strengths and goals while building foundational communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. As students explore character development, community professionals share how their own strengths and experiences helped shape their career trajectories.
The year culminates in a collaborative research project where students work to create a student-authored Spartanburg Career Guidebook. This guidebook will highlight resume and interview tips, showcase local career pathways, and reflect the career themes students find most exciting or relevant for their families and community. Students will reference this guidebook at the end-of-year Career Day – a conference style walkthrough exhibit including breakout workshops and stations for employer representatives – where they will be joined by Spartanburg High School students. This structure and student pairing is intended to bridge conversations among classmates, parents, and older peers. Ultimately, Hopes & Dreams is designed to reinforce students’ confidence, expand their understanding of career possibilities in Spartanburg, and foster meaningful school-to-community connections that support long-term success.