Collaboration in Action: How PACS' Co-Lab Connects Students to Real-World Resources

A look at the Co-Lab space that brings students and influential organizations together

At Passport Academy Charter School, innovation isn't confined to the classroom. In the first floor of our building, also known as the Co-Lab, students connect with life-changing community resources without ever leaving the school.

The Co-Lab was created as a shared coworking and programming space to support both collaboration among community partners and direct service to students. Not only is it an office space; it’s a launchpad for opportunity.

Presentations from local organizations

Walk through the Co-Lab on any given day and you might find staff from Center for Victims holding workshops and office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or catch Ms. Julia from Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation facilitating a conversation circle or helping students navigate job training resources. YouthWorks drops in every other week to work with graduating seniors on career exploration and work readiness training, while the Boys & Girls Club keeps the space alive after hours with programs from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., serving not just PACS students but others from nearby schools as well. A’s Vision, a nonprofit focused on breaking down barriers to employment through driver’s education, permit preparation and license attainment, also partners with the Co-Lab to help students become career-ready over the course of 18 months.

Recently, the Co-Lab hosted “PACS Tea Time–Clock That Tea,” a women’s luncheon on March 14 that brought together students, mentors and community partners for honest conversation and empowerment. The event, co-facilitated by Ms. Julia of Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, embodied what the Co-Lab was designed to do: foster connection, access and community right where students are.

Students painting canvases that will hang in the Co-Lab

"We created the Co-Lab to make sure students could find the support they needed right here in our building," said Joe Oliphant, principal, Passport Academy Charter School. "Whether you need a mentor, help with housing, job readiness or just someone to talk to, the Co-Lab is where those conversations can start."

That spirit of connection was on full display again when PACS hosted "Boys II Men | The Barber Shop Talk,” a special event on April 25 celebrating the young men at Passport through meaningful conversations with a young professionals panel. The event aimed to spark honest dialogue around identity, legacy and manhood, yet another way the Co-Lab continues to bring community impact to life.

Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Academy stops by the Co-Lab

As the needs of PACS students continue to grow, so does the vision for the Co-Lab. Conversations are in progress to deepen relationships with current partners and forge new ones—including organizations aligned with workforce development, financial empowerment and student support. Always seeking mission-aligned partners to enrich student opportunity, PACS welcomes inquiries from organizations looking to get involved. To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, reach out to the PACS team today.