Today on Education Counts Michiana, Steam Lab at Middlebury Boys and Girls Clubs, Spark Business Accelerator.

Cybersecurity classes through Purdue University, the One campaign through School's city of Mishawaka Education Counts Michiana is underwritten by Pokagon Band of Potawatomi investing in education and economic development for centuries, supporting the past, current and future development of the Michiana region.

Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Inspire Good.

Kosciusko County Community Foundation, where donor dreams shine.

The Decco Foundation.

Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, LaGrange County Community Foundation, NIPSCO, the Beim Foundation, United Way of Elkhart County, United Way of St. Joseph County.

Marshall County Community Foundation.

Ready to Grow St. Joe Early Childhood Coalition and a Gift by Elmer and Dolores Tepe.

Thank you.

Welcome to the Education Council, Michiana I'm your host, James Summers.

Education Counts highlights programs and initiatives that are impacting how we teach, how we learn, and how we embrace education.

This program explores ideas in all education sectors preschool through lifelong learning, K-12, post-highschool, and job advancement training with the philosophy that we should never stop seeking knowledge.

Find additional resources at WNIT.org and on the Education Counts Facebook page.

First up, hands-on learning.

The Middlebury's site of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elkhart County is now offering kids the chance to get even more hands-on education through its brand new STEAM lab.

Along with science and math skills, kids will be able to grow through the arts in this nurturing environment.

Brent Fox produced this segment.

In addition to their new building, the Middlebury site of the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County also received another major upgrade.

To support the Boys and Girls Club here in Middlebury, Indiana.

We've invested over fifteen thousand dollars in equipment to support the kids.

They include a 3D printer, several chrome books, apple devices, robotics, charging carts and all sorts of things to help support their education in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

STEAM Lab has been an idea that has been brewing for a long time since the building project was underway.

So the-- about a year ago, there was a grant that we received from IGT for the STEM lab and then when it hit, everything kind of paused for a little while.

So it got put on the back burner.

And that's why it's just opening up now.

This is our sixth after-school advantage program here in Indiana that IGT has supported throughout the state.

We've executed some after school advantage programs all across the state, including in Indianapolis, in Montgomery County, to support veterans, to support kids and other groups that are in need, STEAM Lab has a lot of really great things going for it.

One of our favorites is the Lego robots.

These are definitely not the robot kids I had as a child growing up where they made one--one scene and that was it.

These robots come where they can program, when they sync up to the Chromebook, they have Bluetooth capabilities.

There are really cool features that the kids have already really enjoyed using, along with a lot of other cool things, like a CNC machine that will help our older kids work on job skills, machines so that incorporate some of the art piece into it and even allows us to work on some entrepreneurial skills.

So this summer, I know we're going to work with some local businesses on some different products that they may sell for us that the kids can make up in the lab.

We take kids to the Boys and Girls Club anywhere between the ages of six--six and eighteen.

So we have stuff in the same lab that is appropriate for all those ages.

So for our younger ones, a lot of what they're doing is more hands-on with Legos, with science games, with magnets and with the older ones, obviously, it's where they get into some more of the graphic design and the machinery and robots.

While STEAM-based programs focus on science, technology, engineering and math, STEAM-based programs involve the addition of an art component.

We understand that not all children enjoy the mathematical engineering side of things, and for some of them, they haven't wanted to have interest in that.

So adding art into it really helps us be inclusive for more children to give them a diverse option of experiences in the STEAM Lab.

And the Boys and Girls Club partnered up with the Middlebury schools to make sure that there was a sense of continuity from school to after school.

This project could have taken place without the partnership of Middlebury community schools.

They are having an invaluable partner for us for many years, so they worked alongside of--with us to make sure that we were using some of the same technology.

So that's why we have purchased Chrome books for the lab.

So the children have some continuity, but also that we were able to add things that the schools were able to purchase like Lego robots that can enhance the children's learning, too.

There are even plenty of plans in place to make sure the STEAM Lab gets used to push a child's imagination and hands on learning even farther.

We're excited to work on a lot of different things.

So one of those is the first Lego League that we have done years before and haven't been able to do recently now we'll be able to be a part of.

That helps them work on technical building skills, problem-solving, as well as just a lot of other really fun things like I mentioned CNC machine, the Cricut that allow them to work on some business and entrepreneurial type programs as well.

Having a STEAM Lab with the Boys and Girls Club, like the site in Middlebury, offers more kids the opportunity to take their education to the next level, even if they're not able to do it during regular school hours.

It's important for us to have those really fun hands on activities so that we know we can set kids up for success and they're learning along the way.

But they're not realizing they're learning because they're having fun while they're doing it.

Learn more about the program at WNIT.org.

Inspiring business.

SPARK Business Accelerator at Saint Mary's College is a thirteen week program.

It empowers women with business knowledge and personal development to start or launch their business.

The program has also created a network community for business owners and mentors.

Senior producer Brenda Bowyer presents this story.

So prior to me starting the SPARK program, I worked in food service for 16 years.

After that job, I had this idea, this great idea that I wanted to start a food business and I assumed it was going to be a restaurant.

However, I learned actually during my SPARK journey that it was a catering company.

So I knew I had this gift to cook, but I didn't know how to create or start a business.

I needed someone to show me and teach me how to learn the administrative side of business.

And that's what SPARK came in.

So the SPARK program is graduated two hundred and sixty women and there are ninety businesses that are currently in operation.

We've calculated that SPARKbusinesses contribute about seven million dollars to the local economy annually, which is great and about--well, actually, not about, half of our participants are women of color.

And so our--our program really reflects the community.

And we're really proud of the diversity, not just race and ethnicity, but age, industry type, education, socioeconomic background.

We've had sisters do the program together with two different businesses, a mom and daughter do the program together.

So the cohorts there are a great reflection of the community and yeah, there's just incredible diversity represented in them.

I had an idea to start the company encouraged by my father, but I was always afraid to because I had no knowledge of what a business would run like or how a business plan looks.

So when I heard about SPARK and I was like, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about creating a business.

And I took the classes with the intention of opening up Oxfox Carriers.

I took the smart class in 2018 in the fall, and then in March of 2019 I started Oxfox Carriers and in May of 2019, I was certified by the US Department of Transportation with all of my authorities and I was good to start moving freight nationwide.

I kind of had like, you know, the hobby is what you would call it, because I knew how to sew and I knew how to do other things.

I knew how to take pictures, I knew crafts.

And I always did things for people, family and friends.

So it was more like a hobby.

But I never really thought that I could be my--the CEO of my company.

What people get out of the program, I mean, it's a--it's a phenomenal business training program.

But what I think sets SPARK apart is the infusion of personal development and leadership development that happens through the course of the program.

And then the other--the other significant piece is you get a sisterhood out of SPARK and being an entrepreneur can be really lonely.

And SPARK is a place where you don't have to, like, figure out everything out on your own.

After I learned the ABCs of how to create a business plan with SPARK, I started creating relationships with other women.

And I was like, if their ideas got turned into real successful businesses, then I have a shot at this.

So it was encouraging to be surrounded by other women that have that positive energy, that want to better themselves, want to better their families.

SPARK taught me how to be a leader and how to be a boss, but most importantly, how to believe in myself, to know that I can do this.

And they broke everything down.

The curriculum was so amazing.

Everything was broken down in such a way that I could understand it.

And that made me feel good.

It made me feel empowered.

That's one of the characteristics that we look for, is does this--does this applicant are they interested in being part of a supportive cohort?

And do they have the qualities and, like, show the, do they have a history of giving back?

Because we want our Spark graduates to be there for one another and whatever they learn, turn around and help the next woman coming up.

And I think we've done a really good job.

So over ten years with the--there's just a beautiful network that's been established, of--of graduates who help one another and really consider themselves part of the SPARK sisterhood.

And I know I see they're--the kind of the impact of their work throughout the community, not only in their businesses, but in nonprofits that they launch and, you know, leaders in other capacities.

I think the SPARK program put a backbone in my back and helped me to stand up straight and to know who I am, because I think when we're rooted and know who we are, then it just--it makes it so much easier when we face things.

Everyday we face things.

But if we're walking around like this, it's like it's so hard to get to the next level, but it has helped me to be confident and courageous.

Find out more about SPARK at WNIT.org.

Cybersecurity.

Through the Internet, our world has become more connected than ever.

This means people and businesses need to know how to protect themselves from unseen attacks.

Purdue University and Purdue Global offer classes for people who are looking to enter the cybersecurity field or just want to build up their own skills.

The world is more connected than ever before, our phones, our televisions and even our cars are connected to the World Wide Web.

And with all these connections comes the need to protect them from outside threats.

This is where the need for cybersecurity comes in.

Cybersecurity means many things to many different people.

And--and probably there's no real wrong answer.

But there are a lot of answers that leave out some of the particulars.

So we typically think of cybersecurity as computer security or enterprise security, the things that protect your home networks and business networks.

But it's much broader than that.

Cyber now touches absolutely every industry that's out there.

So when we talk about cars today, they're on the road.

They are part of the cybersecurity concern, advanced manufacturing, the automotive, the aero industry.

They all have concerns that come to cybersecurity.

So it's not just protecting the data on our computers, but it's protecting any of the information used in any of the systems and protecting those systems so that they do what they are designed to do and nothing more.

There are many schools out there like Purdue University that offer programs for people interested in this pursuit.

So there's a number of programs at Purdue University and Notre Dame and all of our peers, as well as many, many other outlets, both traditional training, nontraditional training, as well as online opportunities.

But the key takeaway here is there's not one path, there's not one discipline that is cybersecurity.

So as an example, at our university, at Purdue, cybersecurity courses are taught in 18 different academic departments across state colleges.

So it's not just computer science or applied computing or computer engineering.

There is cybersecurity in multiple domains that are taught.

We cover everything that basically takes us from understanding the, you know, the physical, how things work at the physical layer all the way up to the behavioral and understanding why people are attacking systems and everything in between.

But typically, the students will go where they'll learn about, you know, programming and coding and functional requirements that people want for systems.

And the person looking to move into cybersecurity or even do some scaling up can also enroll in these programs.

People who may be in career right now, but identify that their--their individual career path right now will be influenced by cyber or is already influenced by the cybersecurity domain or those who find them in an industry that is running out of steam and is looking for a new career.

Cybersecurity is extremely interesting and diverse--diverse career path.

I would highly encourage people to take a look at options out there, whether it's the ten, twelve, eighteen week training programs that gives you the introduction that you're able to work and build your career from there.

There are many skill up programs or taking a look at the opportunity to start your career online.

Purdue Global is one that has that opportunity, but there are many out there that are reputable programs or going back to school nights, weekends, full time to--to secure this.

Purdue being a doctoral grant.

The university everybody thinks you don't need, just like you don't need neurosurgeon for your family practitioners and you need GP.

it's the same thing here.

You need everybody up to the computer scientists and things, but you also need those entry-level positions.

And this is something we do with our apprenticeship program is, yes, you know the students can do the two year associate's degree.

They can do a four year bachelor's with the major or they can do a masters.

But we also offer what we call bootcamp training eight week and a sixteen week, and we offer what we call short courses on individual topics.

So there's also because this is a applied practical skill set, even the students that graduate with a four year degree, we also encourage them to have proof of their skills, which is industry certifications.

There's certain recognized cybersecurity certifications.

If you're going to go to government or work for certain companies, they look at that and say, oh, not only are you book smart, but you've shown that you can--you can apply that.

So while many universities and there are many training programs that are now labeled as cybersecurity, many other disciplines can use cybersecurity as a career path.

I have met professional artists who are extremely creative and that has made them extremely valuable because they're able to take a look at a problem, not in the normal way and think, well, if I were a bad guy, how would I subvert this system?

So it's not just learning how to lock down the firewall and how to keep the hackers out in a traditional way.

It's looking for creative minds to be able to identify new ways to protect ourselves.

Whether it's protecting personal information on the Internet or making sure manufacturing machines run smoothly, cybersecurity keeps everything spinning in an even more connected world.

Every part of our life is tied to technology.

So, yes, you have to understand the technology of computers, but you also have to understand what motivates somebody to attack the system.

Why would somebody want to do this?

What would be in the mind of somebody creating a piece of malware?

You also have to look at the business piece of this.

Every company is a cyber company these days.

So you have to understand how would you justify an expenditure for creating some type of cybersecurity controls.

You have to understand about the business and the economics and policy and ethics, because it really is just bigger than just technology.

Technology is obviously a fundamental piece of this, but pretty much everything, every subtle thing that we do interacts with it.

And it's because it's so important to business.

You have to understand more than just the technology.

Find out more about online learning at WNIT.org.

Good mental health.

School City of Mishawaka has launched the ONE campaign, the goal of ONE is to promote mental wellness, reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, and connect students and staff with the resources that support these efforts.

The program helps create ongoing conversations around mental health.

When we first got together to talk about mental health in the schools, we kept coming back to, it just takes one smile.

It just takes one conversation, it just takes one act of kindness and one person reaching out for help.

The one kept coming up and we decided that had so many uses that it would really solidify everything that we're going to do with the ONE campaign.

Yes.

You know, I really think the time has been always now we should have been talking about this for years and years and years.

The pandemic, though, and I'm sure you hear this a lot, really has caused things to be in the spotlight.

And we realize that when we've been isolated and it's so fearful, we don't know what's going to happen.

The mental health, anxiety, depression, those things are heightened and then you don't know where to go.

So through the ONE campaign, we're saying we all can take care of each other.

It takes one person, it takes one act.

And the students at Mishawaka High School that I really was talking about with this, they-- they jumped on the opportunity to help other people because they're dealing with stuff and their stuff isn't OK and their lives are still very, very messy.

But when I said we need to help other students, they said, yes, we do and we're willing to help.

So that's why it's just so important.

And we need to go and talk about this and help students, help people in our community right now.

It doesn't matter who you are or where you've been before, anyone can struggle, and just because you don't let people see it on the outside doesn't mean that it's not there and it's not real for you.

I think we've all had times when we've done that.

And if we reflect on that and think about the difference that just one person or one kind word could have made on that day, then we'll realize why it's so important to reach out to the other people in our lives.

Sometimes you need that one person to listen to you or you need one person to tell you that they love you or just, you know, show that they care.

Even if you don't know the person you always know one smile.

Even with our mask, you can still see someone smiling at you or one word saying 'beautiful' or 'so smart'.

That's two.

But every day, every time I see a smile, I think that is one bit of my day that is better.

Or just like even talking to the person could make them feel better.

Like I actually took like let them know that they're not alone.

Even by just asking someone how their day is, telling someone they look nice today, just complimenting someone.

You can really, really do some work even if you don't realize it at the time.

It's just always that one person that has it worse than the other.

And you just have to strive and you have to make it--make that person feel better and help them through their struggle.

So you don't--so they don't go through the same thing you didn't been through in life.

And another word I would use is help, because if you are really struggling, you should seek help and you shouldn't be afraid to do that.

Most people don't really want to talk about their feelings.

I didn't want to talk about my feelings and sometimes I still don't.

It's just you have to get them out.

You can't keep them buried in your whole life because it just hurts you.

Just one person being there willing to listen to someone's problems.

So, that can save a person's life.

Truly.

If you have empathy, it's actually really easy to connect with someone when they're going through something or if they're having a bad day.

It's so much easier when you don't have to do it alone.

Because if you're in a bad situation and somebody comes up and removes you from that situation and immediately takes you into a positive one, that's going to change your stance throughout the whole day.

You may not know at the time, but you're seeing someone else up can also boost yourself up.

One person can make a big change in someone else's life or just in the whole school.

You know, you can have like the worst day ever.

Your day is a thunderstorm.

It's raining, it's thunder, there's lightning, dark clouds.

And then, like, all of a sudden there's like the calm after the storm.

And that calm is that one person.

It's the little things that show you that you're cared about.

And I try to make it a point to be able to do that and be that person for somebody else.

One person matters and one person can make a difference in your life.

One person can make a difference.

So be that person's difference.

It is important that it starts in the schools.

We already have the resources, we have our students with us, their captive audience, but also there's a lot of work that intentionality goes into being in schools to show kids that they're surrounded by caring adults and people who have their wellness and their well-being at the forefront.

And so it's a natural starting point when we think about student wellness and their mental illness and then taking that one step further and bringing families into that picture and having families understand the role that schools can play and even supporting them.

And then finally taking it to the community and understanding that connectivity between the work that we do in the schools, the work that we do with families and all of those things happening in the community, how we can all collectively be a part of something greater than this mission of one.

Check out WNIT.org for more information on all of these stories.

Thank you for joining us on Education Counts Michiana.

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The success of every student matters.

This WNIT local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Education Counts Michiana is underwritten by Pokagon band of Potawatomi investing in education and economic development for centuries, supporting the past, current and future development of the Michiana region.

Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Inspire good.

Kosciusko County Community Foundation, where donor dreams shine.

The Dekko Foundation Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, LeGrange County Community Foundation, NIPSCO, the Beim Foundation, United Way of Elkhart County, United Way of St. Joseph County, Marshall County Community Foundation.

Ready to Grow.

St. Joe Early Childhood Coalition and a Gift by Elmer and Dolores Tepe.

Thank you.