Continuous Learning for Individuals, Management & Business

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. 

Catalyst Trade believes that "coffee is a sacrament" inviting us to grab a cup and join them as they revolutionize the way coffee is traded. Co-owner Emily McIntyre was looking for help growing her international business when she found the Oregon SBDC Network Global Trade Center and participated in the Global Trade Management program in the spring of 2020. Faced with the challenges of building a business across multiple continents and cultures, and compounded by a global pandemic, Emily was inspired by the class sessions on cultural competency taught by David Kohl. This is her story.

With Portland Public Schools continuing online-only classes in the surge of COVID-19, virtually all public school teachers in Portland, Oregon, have had to learn how to navigate teaching online. The tools have become more streamlined since the sudden shutdowns and distance learning of early 2020. However, the strategies and systems still hit snags often, and teachers are understandably worried about keeping up with their standard curriculum. 

Becoming a lawyer is a time-consuming process that often requires credentials, including a bachelor's degree and three years of law school. Whether you eventually want to be a lawyer or not, there are many other career paths within the legal field, and you don't have to spend quite so many years training up for them. More specifically, shorter-term remote career training can prepare you for different careers in the legal system.

This January, learn how to take the Flipped Classroom student engagement strategy to a new level with the Portland Community College workshop on the Flipped+ Classroom. PCC Instructors Jessica Bernards and Wendy Fresh have seen how to create deeper engagement with students without putting them on the spot and still allowing them the flexibility to take extra time outside of class to push themselves and learn new concepts.

KP Khalsa is one of North America's foremost experts on holistic medicine and Ayurveda, and he recently spoke with team members at Portland Community College's Integrative Healthcare program. His programming offers rigorous learning for those interested in a holistic approach to complement the use of herbs for treating bodies and minds.

From plumbing to manufacturing plant operation, and electrician work to HVAC repair, the trades are constantly advancing. These fields offer hands-on, experience-driven work that is in high demand in the Portland Oregon area. With positive job lookouts according to the Department of Labor Statistics, many people are considering these careers for the first time.

The numbers vary all the time, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics is consistent on one point: information technology careers will continue growing with double-digit percentage growth year-over-year for the foreseeable future. Much of the expansion that took place during 2020 in the IT world has been helping to equip more businesses to operate from sites other than offices to enforce social distancing or boost capacity for everything from app-driven curbside grocery pick-up to online ordering at restaurants.

The information technology field is fascinating because, slowly but surely, nearly all businesses have technical aspects. To create and maintain their technological infrastructure, they need to employ or contract with programmers, troubleshooting and maintenance technicians, and other professionals who work intensively on computerized systems. Joining the ranks of information technology at this point is not just a good idea: you also may already want to start looking at how you can boost your skills.

This year has been a challenge for many organizations and industries, but event management and wedding planning have had to take steps to pivot in response to COVID-19. With so many restrictions on in-person gatherings, event planning professionals and wedding planners have retooled their schedules, shifted to other work, or gone back to school.