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Midland Area Career & College Access Network

What is Midland Area Career & College Access Network?

Midland County needs a strong workforce to compete in a 21st-century global economy. To build and sustain a vibrant economy and strong community based on a highly educated population, Midland Area Career & College Access Network works to ensure everyone in Midland County has the opportunity to access and succeed in postsecondary education.

The long-term goal of the Career & College Access Network is to raise our community’s postsecondary completion rate from 42% to over 60% by 2025.

Purpose

Midland Area Career & College Access Network will:

  • Ensure access to comprehensive services aimed at assisting all students, but especially first-generation and low-income students, to complete postsecondary education
  • Build a culture that encourages completion of career preparation or college education
  • Increase the success of traditional and nontraditional students by lowering barriers

Goals

All Midland County students will:

  • Be academically, socially, and financially prepared for postsecondary study by the end of high school
  • Enroll in college/postsecondary education within six months of high school graduation or GED completion
  • Complete a college or postsecondary credential within six years of high school graduation or GED completion

Links:

College Month Events

Our goal is to help all graduating high school seniors navigate the complex college admissions process and provide the opportunity to complete at least one college application, the FAFSA, and a scholarship application by the conclusion of MI College Month at host high schools.

By providing this opportunity at school and during the day, students are guaranteed time to apply, ask questions, and receive support from their peers and dedicated adults like counselors, college advisers, teachers, and sometimes even college admissions and financial aid staff.

Michigan College Month also builds a school’s college-going culture and the expectation that students require education beyond their high school diploma to be competitive in today’s knowledge-based, global economy.

  • 10/18: 4 PM – 8 PM: FAFSA Night at Coleman Jr / Sr High School Computer Lab: Visit the computer lab to get professional help filing the FAFSA. A financial aid representative, school counselor, and a college adviser will be present to assist with filling out the FAFSA. Each parent and student who attends will have the opportunity to win a $50 gift card.
  • 10/20: 12 PM – 3 PM: School Day FAFSA Assistance at Meridian Early College High School Auditorium. Seniors will be assisted throughout the school day with completing applications, creating their FSA ID, and developing parchment accounts. Students will be rewarded with cider and doughnuts.
  • 10/25: 10 AM – 1 PM: School Day FAFSA Assistance at Coleman Jr / Sr High School. Seniors will be assisted throughout the school day with completing applications, creating their FSA ID, and developing parchment accounts. Students will be rewarded with cider and doughnuts.
  • 11/1: 6:30 PM – 8 PM: FAFSA Night at Meridian Early College High School Commons: Parents and students are welcome to attend and receive assistance from financial aid officers, college advisers, and a 5th-year college coach. All attendees will have an opportunity to win a mini-fridge.

Initiatives

2020 Census Hub Established to ensure our region gets an accurate count in the upcoming 2020 census
Access to Recreation Advancing inclusion and accessibility for all Midland County citizens and visitors.
Cultural Awareness Coalition Our Mission: To promote, encourage, share and sustain cultural awareness throughout Midland.
Exploring Our Future Ensuring Midland remains a strong, vibrant, welcoming community well into the future
Impact Investing Through impact investing, we can deploy capital locally instead of making investments in more typical capital markets, where the dollars flow all over the world. When communities need more resources, many community foundations are seeking ways to have their endowment fund investments put to work to accomplish their mission and financial target goals.
Midland Area Career & College Access Network Working to provide everyone in Midland County access to postsecondary education
Midland Area Youth Action Council Providing grantmaking and other philanthropic opportunities to area youth
Midland Believes Midland Believes is a different kind of scholarship targeting economically disadvantaged and first-generation college-going students i.e. none of the parents/guardians have earned a college degree
Public Arts Midland Public Arts Midland is a space to help people create connections through public art.
Ready For School The goal of this initiative is for every child in Midland County to receive at least one year of high-quality preschool prior to kindergarten.
River Days The free family event culminates with a spectacular fireworks show
Santa House Each year, Santa comes to Midland on the Tuesday evening after Thanksgiving. He arrives at the Tridge, makes his way up Ashman St. and helps our community light the Courthouse for the Holidays. Then he makes his way over to the Santa House where he brings joy to the community throughout the Christmas season.
The Big Give A men's Giving Circle impacting nonprofits in Midland County
Youth Impact Partnership Building empathy and kindness amongst youth.