DEAR WAYNEDALE READERS,
Some of us recall a time when a person could graduate from a local high school and virtually be assured of obtaining a “good job” at one of the manufacturing plants that dotted the Fort Wayne area. Many of the those jobs fed the Detroit automotive industry with wires, valves, tires, engines and other parts used to produce new shiny cars and trucks for the nation. A person could go to work at age eighteen, stay with the same employer until age 65, and make a living that supported a family and a house in the new suburbs. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was our version of the American Dream.
The dream is still there, but the methods of achieving it have changed. Our manufacturers use robotics and six sigma processes to improve productivity. Products are now shipped internationally, and must be calibrated to perform with a variety of other components. A variance of less than a millimeter could render the whole shipment worthless. Global competition demands new ideas and methods to market products successfully and profitably. Companies that fail to improve will ultimately fail to survive.
This August, as thousands of our young people return to the classrooms, we must insure that they understand the interaction between “learning and earning”. The term “lifelong learning” underscores the value that continuing education has on economic development and the ability of our community to attract and maintain jobs. Education does not stop at the steps for the high school, but continues through traditional college and university campuses, trade schools, seminars, workshops, and practicums.
Fort Wayne is home to many colleges and universities that offer classes to fit any subject or budget. We recognized that education, health and wellness, and public safety are the growth “industries” for the coming years. We want to encourage our citizens to take traditional courses when appropriate, or participate in innovative programs such as the proposed Public Safety Academy to be housed at Southtown Mall. Perhaps someday, a young person with the dream of being on the forefront of Homeland Security, will be able train here, earn a comfortable living here, buy a home an raise another generation that will call Fort Wayne home.
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