News

The Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development is glad to hear on Tuesday, February 3, 2026,   th e House passed and the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 . Within this law is funding to continue Job Corps operations through at least June 2027, accompanied by new legal restrictions on Job Corp campus closures.  Job Corps   offers thousands of students across our country the opportunity to attain credentials leading toward self-sufficien

Our YouthWorks staff had the opportunity to visit Sneaker Sapphire , a local retail business, to observe Worcester Innovation Career Pathways Business & Marketing students  as they gained hands-on experience in a real-world work environment. The visit offered a firsthand look at how students are applying classroom knowledge to meaningful workplace responsibilities while building confidence and professional skills. Sneaker Sapphire, owned and operated by local entrepreneur Jad

Today our monthly BV Hub 20/40 Speaker Series was held at the library of Uxbridge High School. Between both students and administrators, this session impacted nearly 100 people who participated either in-person or remotely. Appropriate for February, both speakers came into this conversation with open hearts and left students with a strong sense of the passion one can find in their profession. Based on a suggestion from Dave Moura, Dean of Students and Internship Coordinator

An informational interview with Assistant Director Bob LePage of the Executive Office of Education examining how education policy takes shape and the behind-the-scenes negotiations that influence decisions across Massachusetts.

The newest Advanced Training Manufacturing students are off to a strong start, completing an impressive first two weeks in the program. During this time, students have been focused on the Miller: Augmented Arc Welding certification, where they have shown exceptional skill and engagement in the hands-on training components. One standout achievement came from student Ash Lessard, who earned the second-highest score across the Blackstone Valley Hub on her very first day of trai

The Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development (BV Hub) is honored to be one of the six grant recipients for the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities totaling $900,000. On February 3rd, the BV Hub was awarded $170,000 of this total. The goal of this funding is to provide job training, employment placement, and post-placement services for 116 young adults with disabilities. Read the full list of grantees here .  “We at t

An informational interview with Secretary Patrick Tutwiler to better understand the responsibilities of state leadership and pull back the curtain on how education policy is shaped, coordinated, and executed beyond the public’s view.

AT (Advanced Training) Students Successfully Complete Training Guided by BV Hub Advanced Manufacturing Instructor, Tal Stebbins . AT Manufacturing students at The Blackstone Valley Hub: Ja’mes Jenkins, Tseiraun Williams and Bless Laryea reached a significant milestone this month as they completed their trade and earned both their secondary and primary NIMS certifications (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) in CNC Lathe and Mill Operations. This accomplishment reflec

On February 11 at 9:30 am, our BV Hub 20/40 Speaker Series will be hosted at our Partnered School, Uxbridge High School, with a focus on Bioprocessing and Biomedical Engineering.

Uxbridge High and Bartlett High YouthWorks students Entering the workplace for the first time can feel overwhelming for many students. Understanding what employers expect, building confidence, and learning how to communicate effectively are essential skills that can shape their success. YouthWorks Signal Success training offers an interactive experience designed to prepare students for these challenges by focusing on career goals, workplace expectations, self-awareness, conf

We are excited to be sharing a range of opportunities available to students in our region, made possible through our partnerships and MassHire resources. From hands-on trainings and paid internships to career exploration and skill-building programs, these opportunities are designed to help students gain real-world experience and prepare for what’s next. We encourage our school partners to explore what’s available and share these pathways with students who are ready to learn,

We’re excited to share various grant opportunities available to our Partnered Schools. These grants are designed to support innovative programs, strengthen workforce pathways, and expand access to career-connected learning for students. By leveraging these opportunities that have been shared with us by MassHire, schools can enhance existing initiatives or launch new efforts that align education with high-demand industries across Massachusetts. We encourage our partners to

Last night’s Exec Track meeting reminded me how important it is that we prioritize creating space for reflection on not just what   we do as leaders (or future leaders), but how  we think, feel, and respond in moments that matter. Lynn Turner, CORE XP Business Solutions Our January focus was problem-solving and critical thinking in leadership , and we were lucky to be joined by Lynn Turner of CORE XP Business Solutions. Lynn brought both deep expertise and real-world perspec

Career Speakers, John Little, Annie Kerins, Kai B. White, and Steve Gagliastro visit students at Northbridge High School ahead of their performance in A Christmas Carol Jumping into the half way point of the 2025-2026 school year, I am reflecting on all the wonderful career speakers and events students have been exposed to across central Massachusetts so far. Looking ahead, there are even more plans to support and engage our future workforce. As a Connecting Activities provid

The Uxbridge High School 2026 Internship Showcase was an inspiring celebration of student growth, opportunity, and hard work—and it couldn’t have been a better day to highlight our incredible YouthWorks participants, Hailee, Enzo & Stephen.   Students, educators, community partners, and employers came together to recognize the power of real-world experience and the impact internships have on shaping future careers. The event wasn’t just about resumes and job titles—it was abo

Who knew that gingerbread houses and brain science could make such a perfect leadership lesson? During our Dec. Exec Track meeting , we mixed frosting, candy, and a little neuroscience to explore how our thoughts and emotions shape the way we lead - and got hands on with leadership in the most delicious way! Teams completed the pop-up gingerbread house marketing challenge, designing and decorating their houses with purpose while pausing to reflect on and applying their insig

Do you have students planning ahead for internship opportunities this coming January–May? If so, we encourage them to explore YouthWorks , a paid internship program designed to help young people build valuable work experience while receiving meaningful support along the way. Why YouthWorks? YouthWorks offers students more than just a paycheck, although they will  be paid for their time! Participants also benefit from: Signal Success employability training, which helps student

We did it! The Exec Track program officially launched this fall and I couldn't be happier. This has been a long time in the making and is more than a leadership class and definitely more than a list of “durable skills.” It’s a space for young people in our Partnered and CA school districts to explore who they are as emerging leaders, build genuine confidence, and learn how to navigate the messy, beautiful human side of leadership. A Kick-Off Filled with Energy We met our 20

BV Hub is excited to share a unique and immersive STEM opportunity for middle school students across our Partner School districts. On Sunday, December 7, 2025 , Clark University’s Polar Science Research Laboratory will host an Arctic VR Experience designed to bring the frozen North to life through cutting-edge virtual reality technology. The event will take place from 3:00 to 4:30pm inside Clark’s new Media, Arts, Computing, and Design building. Using VR systems developed b

As a STEAM teacher, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight the “T” in STEAM for technology with my Grade 1–4 students - which is over 570 students!  During our time with the VR headsets,  I incorporated ClassVR into our STEAM lessons, assigning each grade level a playlist that introduced the standards and concepts we will explore in upcoming classes. The virtual experience was highly engaging and gave students an exciting preview of topics such as sound, light, p