The Saint John Learning Exchange: Connecting Education to Employment in Saint John

Above: Chef Darren Dorcas, one of two educators at The Saint John Learning Exchange’s new commercial training kitchen, gives Monica Chaperlin a tour of the facility. With the addition of this facility, SJLE is now able to offer a 14-week direct-to-work Culinary Works program as well as high school culinary credits as part of the Adult High School Diploma program.

For the past four decades, the Saint John Learning Exchange (SJLE) has been a driving force in transforming lives in Saint John. Under the leadership of Executive Director Christina Fowler, the organization has grown from ten staff members and a $200,000 budget to a thriving team of 35 and a budget nearing $3 million. More than 500 learners per year now benefit from their programs and services.

Fowler describes SJLE as “the little engine that could”, explaining that their growth has always been rooted in listening to learners and building holistic supports around them.

Core services include: Adult High School Diploma completion, essential skills training, soft skills development, employment coaching, connection to employment opportunities, project-based learning, empowerment programming and innovative social enterprises like a catering company, café, and cleaning business – each designed to give learners safe, supported opportunities to build job retention skills.

“We wanted to build a culture of work from the very beginning, and show learners that their time is valued,” Fowler says. “As part of our business model, all of our learners are paid every two weeks like they’re going to work.”

A key catalyst in SJLE’s evolution has been its long-standing relationship with the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI). Fowler recalls that in 2013, BCAPI’s business leaders were instrumental in helping her secure a five-year federal grant that allowed the organization to scale their employment programs and social enterprises.

“It can be difficult to get the ear of government if you’re a non-profit,” Fowler says, “but when a business leader supports an NGO by saying you need to pay attention to this work – that starts the wheels in motion.”

BCAPI’s advocacy has helped SJLE secure sustainable core and performance-based funding agreements based on results the organization has proven itself capable of delivering, and government departments like WorkingNB have recognized that the non-profit is the subject-matter expert, and outcomes are jointly set for continued success.

BCAPI has also championed the work of SJLE to local employers.

“Employers are a key partner for our organization,” says Fowler. "We can put our learners through multiple training programs, but need employers to work alongside us to hire our learners and begin to break generational cycles of poverty."

“We work hard to reduce the barriers our youth face when it comes to gaining education and employment opportunities with our wrap-around comprehensive supports,” Fowler says. “Many learners need to build confidence and believe in themselves, as we believe in them. They may require second chances and even third chances to achieve their goals. Patient employer partners, who are committed to the relationship, are critically important.”

That makes BCAPI’s partnership with SJLE an essential ingredient for success. By mobilizing Saint John’s business leaders to get involved and commit to actively mentoring the employee through the ups and downs of the relationship, Fowler sees the potential to unlock real, generational change.

“At SJLE, we want a world where the youth we work with are ready to dream big and are thinking: I could work at large-scale companies like Saint John Energy, Moosehead, Irving or enter into a career in the trades,” Fowler says. “Because these opportunities lead to sustainable careers that will raise them above the poverty line – that has generational impact.”

Fowler credits Saint John’s collaborative culture for much of SJLE’s success.

“Saint John has a unique value proposition – we can pick up the phone and make things happen and that strong network helps connect youth to employment."

Partnerships with organizations like the Teen Resource Centre and the Saint John Construction Association mean each group focuses on its strengths, from case management to trades training, and the youth benefit from the expertise and services of the entire collective.

This interconnected approach has produced nationally recognized results. A social return on investment analysis showed that every dollar invested in SJLE generates $7.50 in value, and a 65% 6-month retention rate for adults in employment .

SJLE’s newest federally funded youth initiative, READY, is supporting 200 youth aged 16 to 30 who are not in employment, education or training. The program combines education, employment, apprenticeship and health services and connects youth directly with employers, educators, unions and health professionals through a variety of partnerships with local organizations.

Fowler says READY funding has allowed SJLE to scale youth programming, expand employer partnerships, and create a second location featuring a commercial training kitchen rooted in food security and culinary skills training.

For Fowler, the mission is clear: “We want our learners to have equitable opportunities in education and employment.  That means providing wrap-around supports, and removing whatever barriers are in their way so they can feel empowered and confident enough to succeed.”

Are you an employer interested in learning more about supporting SJLE learners with employment opportunities? If so, please reach out to BCAPI info@BCAPI.ca or Christina Fowler at christina.fowler@sjle.ca.