A Collaborative Connecting Activities Regional Convening

Yesterday morning, over 60 guests congregated at our Whitinsville-based facilities for a regional Connecting Activities Convening accompanied by a light breakfast sponsored by All One Credit Union. This event was hosted by the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board, Worcester Public Schools, and the Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development as the regional annual convening for the Massachusetts Connecting Activities program (CA) supported by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The sunny weather was a good omen for the brightness each speaker, attendee, and workshop brought to the day.

The opening remarks were given by Executive Director of the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board, Jeff Turgeon, who gave a program overview and outlined the different tier structures and services of CA. This segued into a presentation by keynote speaker, Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pedro Martinez.

Jeannie Hebert (BVCC), Jeff Turgeon (MassHire), Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Ashley Bregman (BV Hub), Joe Wyman (DESE) at Hebert Hall on June 9, 2026

Among the commissioner's insightful slides was DESE's "Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate." A particular phrase that caught my attention in this vision was "intentional collaborator." This convening and everyone who attended served as a great example of intentional collaborators. My vision of a Massachusetts educator, leader, employer or employee is one who is moving forward with intention and seeking opportunities to collaborate.

The keynote address was followed by a "fireside chat" with President & CEO of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, Jeannie Hebert. One of the popular topics touched on was the role of AI in schools, "With the rapid growth of AI and emerging technologies, how should schools think about preparing students for careers that may look very different in five to ten years?" Martinez' partial response included,

"One of the things we want students to understand is how to use AI with integrity. How do we make sure we check the sources of information? I've been in schools where some of our strongest teachers are utilizing AI tools. So we are going to elevate some of those practices [...] We're working with school boards right now so we can develop policies around it. We are working with school leaders and encouraging them (don't be afraid of it!). We have some great example of teachers today who are using AI as we speak and are using it effectively. And we want students to understand, 'here's what it is and here's what it isn't!'

Martinez had a great sense of optimism as he spoke to the audience. As mentioned in our previous blog, prior to coming to Massachusetts last year, Pedro Martinez held the prestigious title, CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

Before the guests split in to breakout sessions, Resource Development Coordinator of the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board, Bruce Mendelsohn shared a brief presentation highlighting resources for educators, labor market trends, and the regional workforce blueprint. Guests then had the opportunity to attend one of the following :

1. Building Strong Employer Partnerships for Career Immersion

Strategies for developing meaningful employer relationships, expanding work-based learning opportunities, and creating sustainable partnerships for students.

Facilitated by Christina San Inocencio, Internship Coordinator, Worcester Public Schools and Kelsey Lamoureux, Director of Innovation Career Pathways, Worcester Public Schools

2. Connecting Career Readiness to MassCore & Classroom Learning

Embedding workforce skills, industry relevance, and career-connected learning into traditional academic subjects.

Facilitated by Emily Lehman Miller, EdD, Administrative Director, Office of College & Career Readiness, Worcester Public Schools and Kerry Akashian, Ph.D., Founder of MassYouthInnoLab

3. Why Students Struggle in Work-Based Learning: Emotional Readiness, Executive Functioning & Student Success

Exploring how anxiety, executive functioning, communication, emotional regulation, and self-confidence impact student success in internships and workplace experiences.

Facilitated by Margot Moses, Senior Advisor for Student Wellbeing at AgileBrain and Joscelyn Young, President of BV Hub

The convening then concluded back in our main hall with a discussion of key takeaways and closing remarks from Jeff Turgeon who was joined by our own Joscelyn Young. Our BV Hub team then enjoyed the sunny afternoon with a productive lunch surrounded by several members of our Board of Directors. Looking back on the full day, we were grateful to provide space for a community sharing their ideas and voices in support of the next generation.

To learn more about ways to get involved with the BV Hub, please reach out to barrett.lauren@bvhub.org. We would love to hear from you!