Take Action:

Missoula Businesses Making a Difference

Thank you for considering helping with the Graduation Matters Missoula initiative by providing students with the opportunity to explore their interests in a variety of job settings in and around Missoula. Graduate Matters Missoula is a community-wide initiative designed to help kids stay and succeed in school. With the help of our entire community, we can help students realize their potential by staying in school, graduating, and going on to become skilled and important members of the work force.

In order to best match your needs and the needs of students, please fill out the following form. Please check any and all possibilities for you or anyone at your business.

	Job Shadowing: A one-day experience where a student observes you or one of your employees in an everyday work experience.
	If offering a job-shadowing or internship opportunity, please describe the opportunity in detail, including the project, location, schedule, skills to be taught, and expectations of the student. Please address the following questions: What do you hope a student will learn? How many hours/days will this experience be? Will this experience be highly supervised or more of an independent learning experience? Can you accommodate a student with special physical needs? Are there any safety precautions a student would need? (Safety goggles, gloves, close-toed shoes, special clothing, etc.) Will you be able to offer any type of incentives, discounts or pay? (If so, please describe.) Are there any particular skills the student needs for this experience? (e.g., driver’s license, computer skills, customer relation skills, ability to lift, etc.)
	Internships: Paid or unpaid internships are a longer-term experience, with the employer designating work-related assignments for students to complete. Internships generally are a longer-term experience, with the employer designating a work-related assignment for the student to complete over a certain time period. This involves teaching the student the skills needed and what is expected. Because of the time commitment, internships must take place after school hours or on weekends. This is a great opportunity for a student to get real experience in the workplace and a sense of why education will help them.
	Mentor Relationships: Several nonprofit programs in Missoula offer opportunities for caring adults to make a difference in the lives of young people. You can be a Big Brother or Sister, tutor kids after school, or take advantage of other opportunities to be a mentor and role model for a young person.
	Classroom Presentations: presenting your experience as a businessperson and/or explaining why students might want to pursue a career in your field.
	Other Opportunities for businesses:
		Promote this initiative on your billboards, newsletter, Facebook, website, in your print ads, etc.
		Adopt a classroom
		Offer discounts or incentives for students who graduate or receive their GED
		Offer discounts or incentives for students completing a project or in conjunction with classroom teachers
Thank you for supporting students by volunteering your time to make a difference in their lives!

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