Get Into Grinnell Blog

Chamber Ambassadors gathered this morning to learn more about a recent partnership between the Chamber and Grinnell College Professor Jonathan Larson. What began as a call from the Center for Careers, Life & Service office over 6 months ago, has transformed into a wonderful partnership and working relationship for students to better understand ‘Education and the Future of Work’.

Larson’s new class offered this semester took a deeper dive into existing workplaces and the forms of work we might like to create. Throughout the course, students have been able to interview alumni, write about public-facing issues at the intersection of education and work, and most recently, conducted focus group sessions with area employers.

Many of the students were not previously familiar with the businesses who participated - which included Bayer Crop Science, German Plumbing Heating and Cooling, Grinnell & Lynnville-Sully Veterinary Clinics, Jensen Heating & Air Conditioning, Key Cooperative, and UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center - but had the opportunity to present questions and engage directly with these employers in an effort to better understand their role and relationships to internships and apprenticeships within their companies.

Following the sessions, students created posters which were on display during today’s visit. The posters reflect not only the uniqueness of each business, but also the creativity and interest of the students as they learned about the various pathways to employment and skill development. Today’s group was tasked with providing feedback and asking questions of what they read on the posters, all of which will be shared with students as they consider their final report. Ambassadors also noted that this project helps to highlight the wide range of career opportunities that exist within any one organization, and positively reflects on small businesses’ willingness to provide flexibility, when possible, in employment.

Today’s visit is a direct initiative of the chamber’s strategic priorities: to further support our educational institutions in building and strengthening relationships with businesses. The chamber wishes to extend immense gratitude to the six area employers who agreed to participate in the process this spring, as well as Professor Larson for his willingness to work together in an effort to forge a partnership as we work collectively to better understand education and the future of work.

Pictured L-R: Cody Jensen - Jensen Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, Fran Conn, Hannah Greene - Bayer Crop Science, Brandy Virchow - B. Nicole Salon, Jennifer McAlexander -JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security, Dedee Lehman - All In Real Estate Inc., Erin Bustin - Grinnell School of Music, Nikki Armstead - Grinnell Chamber, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections, Joni Schmidt - The Mayflower Community