A Tribe for Jazz, Fort Hayes Career Center, and Columbus City Schools Redefine Workforce Development Through Real-World Creative Learning
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbus, Ohio — A Tribe for Jazz and Columbus City School’s Fort Hayes Career Center are redefining workforce development by embedding high school students alongside internationally recognized musicians to produce a full concert on March 23.
“Workforce development can’t live in theory,” said Stephanie Matthews, Executive Director of A Tribe for Jazz. “Students don’t need more simulations — they need stakes, standards, and real responsibility. What we’re building with Columbus City Schools is a sustainable model where young creatives produce professional work alongside world-class artists. And this is just the beginning.”
Rather than simulating industry experience, students at Fort Hayes’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) campus are participating in it — collaborating with accomplished artists, meeting professional standards, and producing work with real-world stakes under the professional industry oversight of A Tribe for Jazz.
In preparation for the March 23 performance at Fort Hayes Career Center featuring Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh, students produced the official event poster — now being promoted across Columbus City Schools’ channels and to regional audiences — and are designing promotional media, writing and delivering public service announcements, managing live lighting and sound, and executing event photography and video production for public distribution. A Tribe for Jazz oversees the entire creative process, ensuring students meet professional industry standards at every stage.
“Through this partnership, our students are able to take the design, media, and production skills they learn in class and apply them directly to real industry projects, says Erica Dodson, Principal Fort Hayes Career Center. “Creating promotional materials, producing live performance recordings, and learning alongside professional jazz musicians gives them an authentic understanding of what creative careers look like and better prepares them for entering the workforce.”
“When we talk about college and career connected learning, we are talking about hands-on opportunities for students to learn by doing,” said Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent of Columbus City Schools. “Through partnerships like this, they develop their expertise in media production, technical execution, and creative collaboration alongside professionals. This is why we see some of our best students coming through CTE, and demand for our classes keeps rising. This is meaningful workforce development in today’s creative economy.”
The collaboration reflects Columbus City Schools’ broader strategy to modernize workforce preparation and expand access to high-growth creative industries.
Together, A Tribe for Jazz, Fort Hayes Career Center, and Columbus City Schools are building a replicable model for modern workforce development — aligning education, industry, and community to create immediate, career-connected pathways for students.
Media representatives and community members are invited to attend the March 23 performance at Fort Hayes Career Center to see the students’ work in action.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Matthews, Executive Director, A Tribe for Jazz, smatthews@atribeforjazz.org
Michael S. Brown, Chief of Communications and Engagement, Columbus City Schools, mbrown11@columbus.k12.oh.us
