about us
Where education meets opportunity.
The iINNOVATE Regional Skills Lab is a new career-connected STEM initiative for the Central Coast that empowers all students, regardless of background, to explore regional careers and build confidence early.
Why it Matters
face economic barriers
+60% of local students
9 out of 10 families
worry their kids can’t build a future here
Employers across all sectors
report difficulty finding qualified local talent
Serving the Central Coast
Our educational programs focus on the regional industries in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties.
What We Provide Our Classrooms
Each month, classrooms receive a new Skills Lab lesson box designed to spark imagination, build real-world skills, and connect students with local careers.
Ready to Use Curriculum
All supplies and materials included—no extra prep
Step-by-step instructions make it easy to implement
Designed to fit into busy classroom schedules
Local Industry Spotlight
Each lesson box features a short video highlighting a high-opportunity local industry
Students hear directly from professionals in the field
Helps connect classroom learning to real-world careers
Hands-on Activities
Students build, experiment, and problem-solve
Designed to foster critical thinking and team-building skills
Aligned to career pathways and grade-level standards
About Our Lessons
Our hands-on career exploration lessons are built on a student-centered pedagogy that draws from experiential learning theory, constructivism, and Universal Design for Learning.
PEDAGOGY
Each lesson is designed to actively engage students in real-world problem solving by introducing them to a local professional and inviting them to take on a job-based challenge. Grounded in the belief that students learn best by doing, the lessons foster curiosity, teamwork, and critical thinking—while helping students make meaningful connections between classroom learning and future careers. By making industry pathways tangible and age-appropriate, our pedagogy ensures that all students—not just some—can see themselves in high-opportunity fields and begin building the skills to thrive in them.
We’re Part of the Uplift Coalition
Supported in part by the Uplift Central Coast Coalition, the Skills Lab is aligned with California’s Jobs First strategy—a statewide effort to create high-quality jobs and build economic resilience across all communities.