Massive Career Expo Set to Inspire Young Minds in East Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi, is gearing up for an event that promises to open the eyes of over 2,200 eager eighth-graders to the diverse world of construction careers. The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is returning for its fifth year at the East Mississippi Community College’s Communiversity, bringing together countless opportunities for students to explore skilled trade careers.
Exploring New Horizons
The expo encourages students to explore different career paths as they think about their future. “It’s really just telling them to explore and to understand that there are options out there,” said an executive director. “We’re just trying to plant seeds, so that more communication and more conversation can take place.”
The event kicks off on Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. with a special “Business After Hours” event, where local business leaders, community members, and industry partners will mingle and preview the expo. Then, on Wednesday and Thursday, students participate in workshops featuring heavy machine simulators, brick laying, and concrete finishing, alongside a crucial safety talk starting at 8 a.m. on both days.
A Strong Foundation
Founded in 2018, the FORGE expo emerged out of a need to bring attention to the wealth of career opportunities in construction. The name FORGE stands for Family Organizations Recruiting Great Employees, representing five founding companies including Graham Roofing and West Brothers Construction. The president of Graham Roofing explained how the idea for the expo developed, highlighting the push to create a similar event right in their community.
What started as a limited gathering with fewer than 1,000 students from just the Golden Triangle has now blossomed into a full-scale event, attracting students from nine counties, including Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay, and Noxubee. This year’s expo requires the use of the entire Communiversity facility for all the activities.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
One of the standout features of the expo is the hands-on experiences students will participate in. “You’re going to a group of kids that never held a hammer to now they have played with concrete. They’ve run a remote control demo saw. They’ve climbed on a bulldozer,” noted a vice president of operations at Burns Dirt Construction. This provides students with the opportunity to try their hands at something they’ve likely never imagined.
Additionally, the expo provides a platform for businesses to connect with the next generation of workers. “If we don’t, we’re going to continue having labor issues,” emphasized the president of Graham Roofing, noting the industry’s need for quality individuals excited to step into these roles.
Life Skills Beyond Construction
Even if some students leave without a desire to pursue a career in construction, the expo offers valuable life skills that can benefit them in various contexts. “Really everything that they’re looking at and learning about is just life skills. It may pique their interest and give them a better understanding for when they need to hire an electrician or plumber,” said the executive director.
This year’s expo promises not just to enhance the students’ understanding of construction but to build a stronger community of skilled workers ready to shape the future.
