News 2025

KEZI9 News Video Highlight Watch the video from KEZI9 News featuring Connected Lane County's new Ready, Set, Thrive Campaign which helps youth and young adults create a solid foundation and helps get them ready for their next steps.

MESA is an after school program which helps underserved and underrepresented middle and high school students excel in STEM learning education. Connected Lane County hosted one of four Oregon's MESA Demo Day's across the state at Spark at Booth-Kelly on Friday, March 14. Read the full article today! Shaping a Sustainable Future: Oregon MESA’s ‘Demo Day’ Student Showcase

Connected Lane County's Executive Director Jesse Nelson talks with Adam from KRVM radio about key programs in the organization like job shadows, internships, drop-ins, and community partners. Listen to the full interview here! Interview with Adam from KRVM

Image Credit: Siuslaw News Connected Lane County participated in the Bridge Lane Florence Event as one of 63 resource providers and hiring employers. The event had over 125 participants with many of them traveling across Lane County. Read more about the event here! Article: Bridge Lane connects people to jobs and resources

Image credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield Connected Lane County's Navigate youth, Fredrick, helps measure and map multiple trees in Springfield's urban forests. He's been working with the Willamalane Park and Recreation District to help catalog and document multiple trees in various parks scattered around Springfield. He has helped count almost 300 trees including "the beast." Check out Lookout Eugene-Springfield's full article to learn more about how Fredrick is

Connected Lane County provides CTE initiatives outside of public schools at its locations, Spark at Booth-Kelly in Springfield and Spark on 7th in Eugene. 3D printers, sewing machines, and laser engravers are just some of the tools used to provide hands-on learning opportunities. To learn more and hear directly from our program staff, check out the article linked below! The Chronicle: CTE – Education at Work, Part 4: The student experience

Connected Lane County received $15,250 as part of a grant from Lane County's Community & Economic Development Program. These funds will help fuel our industry tours. We partner with rural and metropolitan Lane County schools, educators, and businesses to offer 700 high school students opportunities to explore careers in technology, manufacturing, health, and natural resources. Through hands-on industry tours, students interact with professionals from diverse backgrounds and g

In 2024, we merged codeORcreate and marketingJAM into one exciting weekend competition, celebrating all things creative and innovative. This annual three-day event, open to teams of up to five youths, invites Lane County High School students and Lane Community College students to dive into the worlds of coding, website design, graphic design, game development, marketing, branding, and business. Participation is free, offering a unique opportunity to explore and showcase your

"Over 3,000 youth walk through Connected Lane County’s doors annually. Each youth has a unique goal, whether it’s finding career guidance, gaining hands-on STEM experience, or navigating housing and food assistance. Connected Lane County strives to meet youth where they are through various programs, events, and experiences," said Eva Camacho. Interested in a comprehensive overview of Connected Lane County? Check out this guest column in the Chronicle. The Chronicle: Guest col

Photo credit: Bridge Lane Connected Lane County was happy to participate in Bridge Lane in Junction City, a local event designed to share resources and make connections within our community. To learn more, check out the news coverage below! KMTR: Free Community Event Aims to Break Down Barrier, Promote Growth in Lane County Cottage Grove Sentinel: Bridge Lane Community Resource Event