How do you get a job without experience? How do you get experience without a job? What if you don’t have the skills you need to take the next step toward the life you’ve imagined? Often, when faced with a shortage of skills, vulnerability becomes overwhelming. We can easily become frustrated when we are unsure of where to go for support.

Meegan Mackay looked at this challenge on the individual and community levels, listened to the frustrations people faced, and set out in search of a solution. She spoke to students and educators, managers and employees, veterans and their families, about where they needed support. She asked, “What skills are employees missing? What skills do you need at work? When you face life’s challenges where do you feel unprepared? What have you learned the hard way? Why? What do you wish your community could do better?” She found a gap, and set out to build a bridge between resources and those in need. She named her solution Artes pro Vita Academy (AVA), which translates in Latin Skills for Life.

Since AVA began in 2013:

  • Research has continued to validate skill gaps that demand attention with solutions in mind.
  • Focus of our efforts was narrowed to soft-skill development based upon collaboration with community members at a variety of ages, stages, and experience.
  • Assembly of a growing team of curriculum coordinators, entrepreneurs, web developers, investors, and brand consultants has empowered the development our program and the platform we use to deliver these skill modules to our audience.
  • Live workshop delivery continues to refine our specific program modules and delivery methodologies.

Today, we are proud to have delivered over 1,100 hours of customized live workshops. We have expanded our L.I.F.E. Skills approach to include 40 specialized Super Skill learning modules that will be available on our membership website on July 1st.  

Join the Artes pro Vita Academy community today by donating to our Kickstarter campaign.  With your donation, as little as $5, you will receive membership rewards that give you access to our online curriculum. As a member, you will also be able to provide insight into future product development. Join our Dream Team, and be part of the future of AVA, today.

Do you see a shortfall in the skills training required in your life? Tell us about it in the comments!