Ready for the 21st Century: The Futures Community Attends Its Annual Conference

On the morning of January 7, more than 500 members of the Philadelphia Futures community – high school students, collegians, parents, mentors and business leaders – gathered at Drexel University for its Annual Conference. This year's theme, "21st Century Skills for 21st Century Success," was designed to introduce the many skills and talents necessary for college and career success in the 21st century and challenged participants to assess and apply those skills in real time.

The Conference opened with a panel discussion featuring professionals from various fields. Eric Miller, director of product development, Monetate; Janis Moore Campbell, director of graduate student professional development, Fox School of Business, Temple University; and Che′ Ward, emergency physician, Albert Einstein Medical Center; brought firsthand experience and insight to the discussion. The panel was moderated by Management Consultant Henry Veguilla.

"Events like Philadelphia Futures' Conference, which brings together the entire community of people dedicated to college access and success, strongly support Monetate's philosophy of fostering innovation," says Eric Miller. "I'm thrilled to be a part of this event to encourage students to develop and utilize 21st century skills."

After the opening session, the Conference offered students and their parents and mentors the opportunity to attend tailored workshops led by field experts. Students collaborated with their facilitators and peers, took inventory of their skills, and planned for their future successes – all before lunch. Grade-specific sessions included "Realizing My Vision: Preparing the Path to College Success," "Building Community through Mentoring," and "Critical Thinking and Personal Responsibility."

The Conference's closing events brought the entire community back together. Following the awards ceremony, which highlighted the exceptional achievements of high school and collegian students and their mentors and parents, the crowd settled in for the finale – a personal branding presentation and fashion show facilitated by Sharon Phillips Waxman of SPW Productions.

In addition to helpful hints and style tips for professional dress, the workshop illustrated what success looks like in the 21st century. Six high school and collegian students demonstrated how to dress to further college and career goals. Their professional clothing was provided by Macy's and Les Richards.

"It was a great opportunity for me to learn how to dress for the work world," says Antoinette Barnes, a senior at Temple University and one of the participating models. "This experience helped me feel more prepared for life after graduation."

The Conference also served as a platform to introduce Philadelphia Futures' new Vocabulary Challenge for high school students, a semester-long initiative that aims to enhance students' vocabulary, encourage extracurricular reading and boost overall skill development.

"A strong vocabulary and the ability to communicate efficiently is an important 21st century skill," says Joan Mazzotti, Philadelphia Futures' executive director. Our students will now have the opportunity to practice and build their vocabulary on a daily basis. We are confident they will reap the benefits."

The largest event to date, the 2012 Conference celebrated the community of people dedicated to college and career success and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting year.