Serie S12 - Achievements - Projects and Programs - Youth K-12

This series consists of projects and programs that Valerie Overend initiated, developed or co-developed, coordinated and/or delivered. These were primarily Career Awareness and Exploration Programs incorporating female role models and instructors, hands-on skills development, and links to predominantly-male careers in Trades, Technology, Operations and Blue Collar Work (TTO-BCW). Some programs continue to operate.

Valerie Overend developed several of the described programs in her capacity as WITT Facilitator for SIAST (always part-time). However, she was hired at SIAST because of herrole as Executive Director for SaskWITT. She often piggybacked funding from both organizations in order to maximize the breadth and reach of a program. Essentially, for 20 years, SaskWITT operated as a labour pool for SIAST WITT programs, and SIAST provided admin and support services. Ultimately, she arranged for a formal Joint Venture Agreement between SaskWITT and SIAST near the end of her term to protect the relationship that had been built over the years.

(Valerie Overend Index. 2022)