Overview
One of the most significant discoveries during the development of Team Oregon Build (TOB) was the power of collective action. From the outset, it became evident that bringing together students, parents, educators, Tribes and industry leaders around a shared goal would result in a more impactful and transformative experience for everyone involved. TOB’s success exemplifies how the collective impact model—where diverse stakeholders align their efforts toward solving community challenges—creates meaningful learning opportunities and sustainable community solutions.
Partner Insights and Needs
Throughout the TOB initiative, different key contributors shared their goals and challenges, which shaped the program’s collective action approach:
Students expressed a desire for their work to feel connected, meaningful, and relevant to their lives and the community.
Parents emphasized the importance of preparing their children to be both life- and work-ready.
Tribes emphasized the importance of educational pathways that meet their workforce development needs and empower youth to give back to their community.
Industry leaders were eager to engage students in real-world projects that aligned with workforce needs, allowing them to identify and recruit future talent.
Teachers sought sustainable ways to link classroom learning with community
impact but needed support to do so effectively.
The solution emerged through a collective impact model, where diverse groups
collaborated toward a common purpose: addressing pressing community challenges and creating meaningful educational experiences.
The Collective Impact Model in Action
In the collective impact model, stakeholders unite to create community-driven solutions, transforming both the participants and the process. For Team Oregon Build, this model fostered:
Collaborative learning: Students engaged in projects that directly addressed
community problems, such as housing solutions for individuals displaced by
tragedy or hardship.
Community connection: Teachers, parents, and industry leaders worked alongside
students to solve real-world challenges, aligning education with community and
workforce needs.
Personal growth and purpose: Students reflected on the value of their
contributions, with one student saying, “My work matters. I can be a part of something that makes a real difference in the world.”
The collaborative experience not only deepened students' learning but also provided the momentum needed to drive change within the broader community.
Transferable Lessons for CTE Programs
The success of TOB extends beyond construction, demonstrating that the collective
impact model can be applied to other Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. The model’s key strength lies in bringing together stakeholders with distinct goals, ensuring that:
Students gain meaningful education through real-world projects
Communities benefit from tangible solutions to pressing problems.
Educators and industry leaders collaborate effectively, aligning learning
outcomes with workforce needs.
Tribal Partnership enhances inclusive learning through hands-on experience
related to priority career-paths identified by the Tribes.
This scalable and adaptable approach offers a pathway for other CTE programs to
integrate applied learning and collective action, creating long-lasting community impact
while increasing student development and career readiness.
Conclusion
Team Oregon Build’s use of the collective impact model highlights how aligning the efforts of educators, students, parents, Tribes and industry leaders creates transformative educational experiences. Through hands-on learning that addresses real-world challenges, TOB not only prepares students for future careers but also strengthens community connections.
This approach has proven essential to TOB’s success and serves as a model for future CTE programs. By embracing collective action, educators, Tribes and communities can ensure that students receive a purposeful education that benefits both their personal growth and the broader community.
As TOB continues, the initiative stands as a beacon for how state agencies, Tribes and industry can work in synergy, addressing pressing challenges while building a stronger and more resilient future for Oregon.
Please contact Jim Taylor: [email protected] for more information about agency engagement to support Team Oregon Build
Or start a chat with Team Oregon Build by clicking the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.