eLearners.com Launches the National “Career Stimulus Package” from Denver, to Tackle Crisis of Undereducated, Underemployed Adult Americans

eLearners.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics, which has successfully connected learners to online education since 1999, announces the Denver launch of a new national program aimed at helping adults kick start their careers through education, entitled “Career Stimulus Package” (www.careerstimulus.com). The comprehensive career education program will offer undereducated, underemployed adults access to online education opportunities, including up to $4 million in full-tuition scholarships, and job shadowing programs at some of America’s most innovative companies. At the center of the campaign is a 40-city RV “Empowerment Tour” offering free career coaching services. The tour starts in Denver, Colorado on June 12, 2009 and concludes in Los Angeles on September 9, 2009.

The goal of the Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour is to help Americans improve their lives through higher education and career resources. The Denver Empowerment Tour will begin at 7:00 a.m. on June 12 at Skyline Park at 17th and Arapahoe in downtown Denver, with career coaching sessions, and conclude at 5:00 p.m. At the Denver launch event, a press conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. featuring Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien. O’Brien will discuss the importance of higher education and Colorado initiatives aimed at improving adult education.

“Colorado needs an educated workforce to move forward with the New Energy Economy, a robust aerospace industry, health care and many other growing segments of our economy,” said Colorado’s Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien. “Colorado is one of the states best poised to rebound and now is a good time for non-traditional students to prepare themselves for the upswing.”

Alyssa Ohleyer, a Project Working Mom recipient from Idaho Springs, will also speak at the press conference. Project Working Mom is the previous eLearners.com full-tuition scholarship campaign that received more than 400,000 applications during the eighteen month campaign. You can read Alyssa’s winning essay at http://tinyurl.com/Project-Working-Mom-Recipient.
The Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour is the voice designed to help adult Americans overcome the barriers of time, money and confidence in pursuing a college degree. The scholarships provided by the participating schools, and the scholarship funds raised during the tour, is one small but significant step in helping to alleviate the financial burden. By studying online, students can do class work from home, during their lunch hour at work, and at any time of day mitigating the obstacle of time. And through the comprehensive Career Stimulus Package efforts, adults can get the knowledge and information they need to feel confident about returning to school.
“Everyone talks about the crisis in education, but nobody is focusing on the root cause —the lack of college educated adults in the U.S.,” explained Terrence Thomas, EVP Marketing Operations for eLearners.com. “Not only is the fact that more than 70% of Americans aged 25 and older not having a bachelor’s degree debilitating to the competitive status of our nation, but it’s adversely affecting future generations as these adults ultimately become parents and we need them to be education role models for America’s children.”

The tour’s primary ambassador is Flavia Colgan, a passionate advocate for education over the past decade. She served as the first woman and youngest Chief of Staff in the country for Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. And, most recently she has appeared as a correspondent and commentator on several national TV networks including CBS, MSNBC and FOX.

"While the Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour are a catalyst for discussion and change, they are certainly not enough," said Colgan. "Funding for non-traditional adult education must become an ongoing national priority. Half of the projected job growth in the United States over the next decade will require a college degree. To truly strengthen America's workforce, we need to equip adults to take on these jobs. If we can educate, we can empower and employ. It's the solution to America's current and future economic woes."

The components of the Career Stimulus Package include:

Full-Tuition Scholarships

The Career Stimulus Package campaign will award full-tuition scholarships to adults who have applied through www.careerstimulus.com. The scholarships will let deserving adults attend an accredited online college or university tuition free. The total value of these scholarships, which range from the associate’s level to the Ph.D. level, is about $4 million. Participating schools providing the scholarships include: American Public University, Ashworth College, Bryant & Stratton College, Capella University, Ellis University, Everest University, Virginia College, and Western Governors University. To apply for a scholarship, applicants must submit a short application and essay describing their goals, why they want to go back to school and past instances of triumph over adversity. The participating schools will select the recipients. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is October 31.

Job Shadowing

The individuals selected to receive scholarships will also receive a one-week, paid job shadowing opportunity with one of the Career Stimulus Package participating companies, including: CareerBuilder.com, Dictionary.com, ZipRealty, Entrepreneur Magazine, eLance, EducationDynamics, Habitat for Humanity, spud! and Orbitek, LLC. This job shadowing opportunity will provide scholarship recipients the chance to learn more about the industries they have interest in and will also provide the opportunity to network with professionals.

The Tour

The “Empowerment Tour: Educate. Empower. Employ.” Will travel to approximately 40 cities across the country by RV. The tour will launch in Denver on June 12 and conclude in Los Angeles on September 9. The tour will offer free career laser coaching sessions to help Americans discover what is holding them back and the strategies needed to move toward success. The two participating career coaches are Denver residents. Michael Cushman is the immediate-past president of the Denver Coach Federation and Ayn Fox is a certified Master Coach by the International Coach Federation. Both Cushman and Fox will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at each tour stop. Reservations are being accepted online for Michael Cushman at www.empowermenttour.com; reservations for Ayn Fox will be accepted on location.

In addition to free career coaching sessions, each Empowerment Tour stop will feature an Education Station where people can apply for a full-tuition scholarship. The Empowerment Tour will also include Donation Stations at each stop where people can donate old suits and other interview appropriate attire. Each tour stop will also include complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day.

For more information on the Career Stimulus Package, The Empowerment Tour and the full-tuition scholarships and job shadowing opportunities, visit www.careerstimulus.com. For additional information on the Empowerment Tour, including dates and locations go to www.empowermenttour.com.