2020 Annual Report

The Future of ACE Electrician CADD Instructor Architect Civil Engineer Urban Planner Construction Manager ACE MENTOR PROGRAM CLEVELAND AFFILIATE ACE MENTOR PROGRAM ARCHITECTURE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING 2020 Annual Report acecleveland.org Letters from Leadership To say this past year has been unusual is an understatement. Unfortunately, our 2019- 20 program was cut short due to the COVID pandemic but we did have some silver linings. ACE Cleveland distributed $122,000 dollars in scholarships to 14 very deserving students. Most notably, one of Cleveland’s own, Diego Cortez, was awarded the ACE National CMiC—Allen Berg Memorial Scholarship for $40,000. We are very proud of Diego and this great accomplishment. A huge kudos needs to go to all the mentors and teachers that continue to foster this program during the shutdown. They are the lifeline that has kept the students engaged. I would also like to recognize the ACE Board for their unwavering dedication to bring an Mark Panzica after-school program to this year’s students in a remote environment. The Board also BOARD CHAIR re-evaluated the strategic plan and refined our goals to be more impactful and equitable. This process has helped us focus on how we can provide better opportunities to the students we serve. As we continue to navigate through a remote learning environment, our focus remains the same, which is to Engage, Excite, and Enlighten the students in the A / C / E industry and help foster their growth beyond high school graduation. I’m very proud of the impact ACE Mentor Cleveland has had and the progress we continue to make. Our over students continue to amaze us with their intrigue and passion for learning, and the development of ideas $1MILLION they make on projects is outstanding. Alumni entering our industry and other fields demonstrate maturity and GIVEN! competence. Volunteerism continues at a level that allows ACE to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, which ultimately impacts youth across ACE CLE is proud of our efforts Greater Cleveland. to support students’ college Glen Shumate and trade career pathways over EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This annual report illuminates but a portion of the impact the past 10 years. we are having, even in the midst of a pandemic. We ask during these extraordinary times that you continue to Thank you college partners, support us as we adapt and continue to evolve. donors and sponsors. Thank you for your continued support. A special thank you to the student scholars, parents, teachers and mentors that NOTE: THE GROUP PICTURES FEATURED THROUGHOUT THIS REPORT WERE TAKEN PRE-COVID continue to make ACE a valuable experience for our participants. 2 ACE MENTOR PROGRAM CLEVELAND AFFILIATE ACE National Spotlight The Big Picture Who we are & where we’re heading While 2020 was a year full of access. ACE has been working to unexpected challenges, it was also a secure laptop and hot spot donations year of new opportunities for the ACE along with developing curriculum that Mentor Program. When the pandemic can be printed and mailed to students at hit in early March, halfway through home. the 2019-2020 ACE program year, our dedicated staff, affiliate leaders, and ACE was fortunate to continue mentors were able to remain focused both national and local scholarship on our mission and adapt to virtual programs, awarding outstanding programming and student support. ACE students across the country with scholarships to pursue their ACE National quickly shifted priorities postsecondary education. ACE to fast track the development of Cleveland student scholar, Diego virtual resources for both students Cortez, was awarded the top and mentors. ACE Student Resources CMiC scholarship prize in April Online, a web-based collection of via a surprise Zoom call with industry-related, career pathway, and his teachers, mentors, and ACE professional development information, leaders! was released in April. The ACE @ Home series was initially developed This fall, students had exciting to provide at home summer learning opportunities to attend a brand-new opportunities for students, ACE @ virtual field trip series. ACE-Ventures Home has transitioned into plug and will provide students with advanced play virtual curriculum that can be used career exposure and an insight to supplement virtual programming. into the latest technology helping to revolutionize construction. The The pandemic has highlighted commitment to our mission remains inequalities in technology access faced strong as the ACE community continues by many of our students. We have been working together and supporting working with affiliates on strategies each other through these unforeseen to ensure all our students have equal challenges and new opportunities. 2020 Annual Report 3 Strategic Planning Strategically Planning for the Future of Cleveland Students The ACE Board during its annual retreat expanded its strategic goals to be SMARTIER. The SMARTIER effort enhanced the strategic plan by adjusting the goals beyond SMART to also be (I) inclusive, (E) equitable and (R) readjust. Leading up to the retreat exercise, an Ad Hoc Committee of the board held two planning sessions with ACE STUDENT Improved Insights focusing on program outcomes PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK and impacts. The Ad Hoc Committee analyzed • high satisfaction with ACE experience how the ACE program was functioning, strengths and weaknesses and what the priorities were to • increase in career awareness strengthen the success of the program. • gain in work and like skills • gain in technical skills Board and Committee Chairs continue to utilize their goals and outcomes as part of their committee work for the betterment of ACE students and ongoing success. by the numbers AFTER THE PROGRAM, 73% OF 2016 STUDENTS AGREED THAT THEY WERE MORE INTERESTED IN PURSUING ACE CAREER. Almost all 2016 student 2017-2019 ACE alumni largely agree: I learned life and work skills that will help me 96% participants in any career ACE helped me build a professional network 86% had a great that will help me advance in my career experience in My ACE experience helped me be better 85% prepared than my peers in college the program agree disagree 4 ACE MENTOR PROGRAM CLEVELAND AFFILIATE Additional Support for Students Experience that Pays Off Cuyahoga Community College provides Cleveland SAY YES! Metropolitan School District ACE Mentor graduates that enroll at TriC with the opportunity to earn up to six hours The goals of the Say Yes of college credits at no cost to the student. Cleveland are complementary to ACE Mentor, as they seek The three to six hours of articulated credit may be to increase education levels applied towards an Associate of Applied Science in of Cleveland residents; boost Construction Engineering Technology or considered as and retain population in the city of Cleveland; general elective credits to any associate degree. improve college access for middle- and low- income families in Cleveland; and spur economic Eligible students are also qualified to receive matching growth and expansion in the region. While Say scholarships. Students must be admitted to and enrolling Yes provides tuition scholarships and mentoring, in one of Tri-C’s construction, electrical, or mechanical ACE scholarships can also support room, board, engineering technology programs, or other Tri-C books and other student costs. ACE aligns with associate of arts, associate of science or associate of Say Yes efforts by providing after-school and applied science programs or workforce development, or summer learning experiences. apprenticeship programs. The Future of the Trades WHO: The Trades Team Subcommittee works directly with construction firms and building trades apprenticeship leaders to develop career interest and pathways leading in to the many diverse trade programs. WHAT: By providing a detailed overview of hour long interactive video sessions that SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE opportunities to students, exploring what focus on various technical trades and will FOR TRADE APPRENTICESHIP it means to join a trades or apprenticeship provide students with the opportunity to PROGRAMS THROUGH THE ACE program, experiencing trades training ask questions to current trades people. MENTOR APPLICATION PROCESS, centers, and hosting a trades day to practice Additional activities are being planned once CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS hands-on learning. the pandemic is under control, these include, ASSOCIATION AND THROUGH student mentoring programs and traveling to CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. and visiting constructions sites to see work WHERE: Given the unique environment of being completed first hand. COVID-19, the team is working to provide 2020 Annual Report 5 Scholarships Paying it Forward Diego Cortez credits Dad, teachers and mentors Mentors come in many forms, shapes, and sizes. Cortez, whose family hails from Mexico, came to Sometimes they’re a teacher. Sometimes a friend from the Cleveland as a toddler with his family, including his dad block. Sometimes a parent or guardian. Many times it’s all who worked in the construction business. “My dad inspires of the above. me,” he noted. “When I was 14 or 15, in my spare time, I would go to work with my Dad, watching him measure and Just ask Diego Cortez, an ACE Mentoring scholarship provide estimates.” That’s when Cortez decided he wanted winner who credits his Dad as well as his teachers and to follow in his dad’s construction footsteps - but take it mentors for igniting the spark that lit the fire in his belly for to the next level. “I like working with people and going to construction management. job sites, and meeting with people to see what’s being done,” Diego said. “Some might see an empty lot or an old building,” he added, but Cortez sees potential. Each of the past three years, ACE Cleveland has provided scholarship support to college juniors and seniors 2020 majoring in architecture, Scholarship construction and engineering $122,000 7 colleges fields to assist them towards Info total scholarship dollars committed partner matches totals completion of their degree.

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