Rural Community and Career Connected Learning: Impacts of High School Internships Prioritizing People and Place

This study examines the outcomes of non-school internships hosted by two Appalachian Ohio organizations: Rural Action and Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C). As intermediary organizations, these entities work outside the boundaries of formal schooling to address issues of youth outmigration and sust...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of research in rural education Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 1 - 18
Main Authors Ricket, Allison L, Yalın, Jacqueline, Bentley, Emily
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published University Park Journal of Research in Rural Education 01.01.2023
Subjects
Anniversaries
Career Choice
Careers
Collaboration
Community
Education
High Schools
Internships
Learning
Learning Theories
Nonprofit organizations
Rural areas
Rural schools
Secondary schools
Social capital
Students
Technical Education
United States > US
Ohio
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Summary:This study examines the outcomes of non-school internships hosted by two Appalachian Ohio organizations: Rural Action and Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C). As intermediary organizations, these entities work outside the boundaries of formal schooling to address issues of youth outmigration and sustainable community development through high school internships. This qualitative study guided by the conceptual framework of community and career connected learning (CCCL), seeks to fill a gap in the literature where existing studies favor a distinctly urban-centric vantage point or focus on optimizing social mobility and developing skills needed to maintain a globalized, unrooted workforce. Previous program participants (2016-2020) between one to three years post-high school graduation (n = 25) were interviewed and data were analyzed using generalized issue focused analysis. Findings reveal impacts on participants ' (a) perceived role within their rural communities, (b) career pathways, and (c) social capital acquisition. Participants indicated the internship positioned them to establish an initial career trajectory, while also leading them to reconsider their role within the community.
ISSN:1551-0670
DOI:10.26209/JRRE3903