Mayor urges cooperation between industry and education

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera urged citizens this week to look for ways to form partnerships to increase the number of people qualified to work in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Rivera, speaking as part of a Colorado STEM network regional meeting Tuesday on campus, urged cooperation between industry professionals and schools and other non-profits.

Colorado faces shortages of qualified workers in science, technology, engineering and math. As a result, many non-resident workers are hired. This poses a unique challenge for companies that require security clearances and U.S. citizenship.

As an example of cooperation, Rivera said a committee of City of Colorado Springs employees, working as volunteers, plan to create a website to match professionals with non-profits and schools seeking mentors or speakers.

Government leaders and educators in the STEM fields from the Colorado Springs area attended the Tuesday meeting. Participants echoed the mayor’s plea for more cooperation and more emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics in pre-kindergarten through high schools. The group also discussed ways to recruit and support teachers and ways to expose students to the possibilities of STEM careers.

This meeting is an on-going effort by the Colorado STEM Network to promote education For more information, contact Lynn Frederick, Colorado Springs Region STEM project coordinator, (719) 466-7950 or lfrederi@uccs.edu.