Editor's Note: Braylon Youker reported this story as part of Kalamazoo Voices of Youth. The Voices of Youth Kalamazoo program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave, the Kalamazoo YMCA, and KYD Network, funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation.  This series features stories created by Kalamazoo County youth in partnership with professional mentors, as well as stories by adult writers that examine issues of importance to local youth.


KALAMAZOO, MI — Whether it is a robotic arm, a life-sized animal model, or an entire AC unit, the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency (KRESA) Career Connect Campus (CCC) has lots to offer for career-based education. 

Fran DwightThe 162,000 square foot campus of the Career Connect Center is well-lit and welcoming.The CCC is a “palace of intangible reality,” says Sarah Mansberg, Executive Director of Workforce and Community Initiatives at KRESA. 

Fran DwightInside the culinary education section of the KRESA Career Connect CenterThe CCC officially opened its doors last Thursday (May 22nd), marking a major step forward in rethinking education. 

A first look

The first tours offered visitors a comprehensive look at how the CCC will host Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs designed to simulate real workplace experiences while helping students explore, prepare, and succeed in the workforce after high school. 

Fran DwightHope Lim, CTE and Early Middle College Alumna, spoke at the KRESA Career Connect Center's ribbon cutting.However, the CCC is more than just a building — it is now a launchpad for student opportunities with an even larger goal: to help students truly see what is possible for their futures. 

Fran DwightKRESA's Career Connect Center is located on Vanrick Drive.“Too many incredible occupations are hidden behind obscure-sounding language or outdated understanding of industry,” says Eric Stewart, KRESA’s Assistant Superintendent for Career and Talent Development. “We’ve embedded cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art technology all across the CCC to help shine a light on the current realities and opportunities of these occupations right here in Kalamazoo.”  

Real skills for real careers 

At first glance, the CCC is nothing shy of astonishing. The outside alone displays innovation, but the inside is even more amazing. Holding more than 22 CTE programs, the CCC stands as a large-scale facility with extensive offerings. The Automotive Technology CTE alone has access to a multi-car mechanic’s garage capable of housing well over 15 vehicles. 

Fran DwightHundreds of local officials, school administrators, teachers, and government and organizational leaders attended the ribbon cutting for KRESA's state-of-the-art Career Connect Center.“We believe if you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” says Sandy Barry-Loken, KRESA’s Assistant Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement. “What really excites me is the intentional design…that will allow students to not only have a hands-on experience in the program they participate in, but to have an ongoing showcase of all the other available CTE courses — all in-demand, well-paying careers.”

Fran DwightA robotic arm in the robotics lab of KRESA's Career Connect CenterThe CCC prides itself on being hands-on and project-based, giving students practical experience that directly translates to the workforce. But the goal is more than career readiness, it is enjoyment and excitement. “We want kids to have fun. Learning, after all, can be and should be engaging… it will be a blast,” says Stewart. 

Breaking barriers 

The KRESA Career and Technical Education (CTE) program was created to give high school students hands-on career experience to better prepare them for real-world applications. However, with students coming from all over Kalamazoo, there was an increased need for a dedicated CTE center where most programs could be held to reduce travel times and district disparities, according to planners.

Fran DwightDr. Dedrick Martin, KRESA Superintendent, speaks at the KRESA Career Connect Center's ribbon cutting ceremony.The opening of the Career Connect Campus results from a multi-year plan to expand access to CTE programs to all of Kalamazoo County. Before the CCC opened, CTE opportunities varied by district due to the location of certain programs. By consolidating multiple programs under one roof, KRESA aims to eliminate these barriers and provide “equitable access to a world-class education,” says Dr. Derrick Martin, KRESA Superintendent. 

Inside State-of-the-art Facilities 

In 2019, 60% of voters approved a millage proposed by Southwest Michigan First and KRESA for the creation of the facility. While the millage would pay for operational costs, the real kickstarter was an anonymous $100 million donation that further set in motion the creation of the building. The now-completed Career Connect Campus increases student access to job discovery programs and real-world skills development that will give them a leg up in the job market. “We heard our local employers loud and clear — these skills matter,” Stewart says. “That’s why we focus so heavily on their development.”

Fran DwightA few of the state-of-the-art lathes in the machine shop at KRESA's Career Connect CenterLocated centrally in Kalamazoo County just off the Sprinkle Exit of I-94, the CCC addresses disparities in transportation and accessibility among students in different districts. “This campus will increase access to CTE for students all throughout the county, especially those historically who had barriers to participation,” says Barry-Loken. 

The new campus currently offers CTE programs across several pathways, including Culinary Arts, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Cybersecurity, Criminal Justice & Public Safety, and many more. Each program maintains the standards of the Michigan Merit Curriculum along with the standard expectations of the state, nation, and industries. 

Fran DwightOne of the many classrooms at KRESA's Career Connect CenterEach CTE program offered at the CCC is housed in specialized labs or classrooms designed to replicate real-world professional environments with access to all kinds of career-specific equipment. In the Culinary Arts kitchen, stainless steel appliances, deep fryers, and pots and pans galore allow students to train in a restaurant-like atmosphere. The Veterinary Science classroom contains full-sized models of horses, sheep, and cows used for demonstration. 

Fran DwightInside the veterinary education section of the KRESA Career Connect CenterAmong the most unique offerings is the CCC’s Supply Chain CTE program — the first in Michigan. “Our Career Connect campus offers the first Supply Chain CTE program in the state…our students will manage the logistics for purchasing, distribution, and order fulfillment for the entire campus,” says Barry-Loken. The ability to manage campus logistics will provide students with a job-like experience while providing for the entire facility. 
 
More than a building 

The opening of the KRESA Career Connect campus marks a significant investment in the development of increased opportunities for Kalamazoo County education. “I can’t wait to see [the students’] eyes light up. We’ve built this for them,” says Stewart. 

Fran DwightEric Stewart, Kalamazoo RESA Assistant Superintendent for Career and Talent Development, Anna Cool Community Engagement Specialist for Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Dr. Dedrick Martin, KRESA Superintendent, pose with a state certificate.With a focus on innovation, opportunity, and accessibility, the CCC is expected to become a cornerstone of regional education. As CTE programs expand and become more accessible, the Career Connect Campus is positioned to redefine educational pathways for Kalamazoo County students. 

Fran DwightA few of the state-of-the-art lathes in the machine shop at KRESA's Career Connect CenterThe CCC is not just a place to earn credit or complete coursework; it is a palace of opportunity capable of reshaping lives. The CCC, according to those involved, is a place where futures begin, barriers are broken, and goals are brought into focus. For hundreds of students across Kalamazoo County, that opportunity is now.


Fran Dwight

Braylon Youker is a sophomore at Kalamazoo Central High School and the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center, both in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In his free time, Braylon enjoys working out, reading political fiction, playing guitar, and hanging out with his pets.