Since 2005, Color Services has supported local students by photographing the annual Partners in Education Career Education Awards Breakfast. Today, the 31st annual event was held at the Bacara Resort and Spa for this year’s well-deserving recipients. Rene Correa, of Color Services and Elegant Silhouette Studio, captured the moment as each group of students was introduced. Printed copies of Rene’s shots will be produced in the comings days making this a team effort by all of the staff at Color Services. Each student will receive a complimentary 8×10 photograph. We are proud of the work these students have done and honored to support them in this way!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Santa Barbara Partners in Education, this wonderful organization provides much-needed assistance for public education in high priority areas of need. The Partners’ mission is to connect businesses and individuals with schools in order to support a more vibrant economy, the vitality of our community, and the well-being of local children and their families.

Core Partners programs include:

• Computers for Families – This award-winning program provides students from low-income families with refurbished computers, discounted Internet access, and training in order to facilitate their academic success.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination Program – This program recruits businesses and individuals to volunteer at public schools in programs which have been identified as pressing areas of need. The goal is for Partners to take on the role of volunteer recruiter, a responsibility that schools do not have the resources to maintain. Partners supports Career Education and Workforce Development by implementing activities such as career day, mock interviews, job shadows, student internships and guest speakers.
• Paid Job Training and Student Internship Program – This program addresses the lack of real-world learning opportunities that are necessary for students to remain engaged in school and motivated in achieving their future goals. This program provides 6 weeks of job readiness classes and 8 weeks of paid work experience to 60 disadvantaged high school students each year.

Just as it takes a whole village to raise a child, local businesses and community members need to participate in educating and developing our future workforce. To learn more about how you can get involved, go to santabarbarapartners.org.