CHANGING A CHILD'S FUTURE Career & College EXPO 2009 February 19-20, 2009 Cook Convention Center

The Memphis City Schools 2009 Career & College EXPO was held on February 19-20, 2009 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.  This two-day event was a great opportunity to reach MCS career and/or college-focused students.  The support and participation was tremendous.  There was a well attended pre-event reception on the evening of February 18 as well.  Dr. Kriner Cash, Superintendent, addressed the gathering; and musical performances were provided by the White Station Middle School Chorus, Central High School Jazz Band, and the Cordova High School Orchestra.  The White Station High School JROTC posted and retired the colors for the event.  Over the course of Thursday and Friday, approximately 5,000 graduating juniors and seniors from every city high school filed by the booths at the Memphis Cook Convention Center hoping to take a step toward a brighter future with a successful career.

According to Willie E. Slate, Executive Director of the Memphis City Schools Division of Careers, Technology & Adult Education, there were 122 exhibitors participating, and 26 of them were colleges.  "We wanted to create a rich experience for both the technical/career side and the academic side."

Students stayed for about 2 1/2 hours, taking in workshops on how to apply for 2,000 summer youth jobs, thanks to the new stimulus bill, and meeting industry leaders.  The Regional Chamber of Commerce emphasized the growing job opportunities in Memphis, listing salaries in each, including $21,154 per hour for huge recording stars and $59 per hour for biochemists and biophysicists, the top tier in the city's emerging biotech work force.

Participants included:  Colleges and Universities, Career Management Specialists, Criminal Justice & Fire Department Services, Automotive Repair & Transportation Services, Local Businesses, Construction & Electrical Trade Unions, Hospital & Medical Services, Hotels & Travel Agencies, Military Recruitment, Logistics, and Marketing & Tourism.

Click below to read the full text of the February 21 Commercial Appeal article by Jane Roberts:

If you would like additional information about the event, please call 901.416.8046 or email Dr. Carol Peterson at petersoncarol@mcsk12.net.

Special thanks to the following sponsors whose support will "change the future" for many students: Christian Brothers University, The City of Memphis, Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, Clear Channel Radio Urban Stations, The Commercial Appeal, McKesson Corporation, Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Memphis Daily News, Smith & Nephew, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Workforce Investment Network, Memphis Area Career Center, Youth Achieve, and Memphis City Schools FM 88.5 and Cable 19 Television.

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