Building Capacity, the 2020 Mission: Graduate Data Report highlights the successes experienced by the partnership and provides a glimpse of future plans. The report was officially released at a virtual All Partner meeting attended by 56 partners.
As of 2018, 35,553 additional post-secondary graduates above and beyond the baseline year of 2020 have been added to our central New Mexico region. Post-secondary certificates are attributed as the main driver to the increase.
The report also shows that high school graduation trends have continued on a gradual increase yet college enrollment rates continue to decline.
Collecting and utilizing data is more important than ever,” says Megan Dunn Davison, United Way Central New Mexico’s Chief Impact Officer. “It will inform our strategies and the new partnerships that we need to make. Our partners will identify gaps and challenges and we can co-create to find solutions. This will also help us set our next goal.”
Due to the uncertainty due to the pandemic, the Vision Council has recommended that Mission: Graduate wait until next spring to set a new goal.
Community leaders showcased the work done by Mission: Graduate convened teams:
Laurel Wykoff of NMPBS and chair of the High School Graduation Network described how the Attendance Conferences have gradually grown over the years and now focuses on supporting 90 attendance teams statewide by sharing local best practices.
Tina Hite, Program Manager & Principal Lecturer, Adult Education Center, UNM Valencia, shared the best practices and continued success of the Valencia County Partnership for a Work Ready Community, a team convened by Mission: Graduate that has hosted teacher academies for the last two years, including a recent virtual academy.
Chris O’Conner, Internship Coordinator, Los Lunas Public Schools, discussed the growing impact that a focus on college and career exploration is having on students. However, due to the pandemic, students are focusing on civic responsibilities such as registering to vote and filling out the census. Because of the nature of virtual classes, workshops on resume writing and mock interviews are currently on hold.
Joy Forehand, Operations Manager for Central New Mexico’s Workforce Connection Centers talked about the challenges of virtual service delivery in the public workforce. She emphasized the opportunities that Central New Mexico Community College offers through stackable credentials – stacking certificates and degrees that together provide a comprehensive background for various types of positions.
All Partner meetings are held annually, typically in January and July.
