Supporting hands-on career exploration: Gallatin Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day

Meta believes every student deserves a clear path to opportunity and that it takes an entire community to build it. In Sumner County, Tennessee, we saw that belief come to life at the state’s first-ever Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day.

Led by Be Pro Be Proud Tennessee, this hands-on career exploration event brought together chambers from across Sumner County, local schools, and employers representing the state’s highest-demand industries — from skilled trades and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, construction, and technology — all united around one goal: connecting students to real careers. 

The results: 500+ high school students engaged. 50+ employers connected. Multiple graduating seniors offered jobs on the spot.

“Draft Day represents the future of workforce development in Tennessee,” said Josh Brown, President and CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “By bringing students and employers together in an engaging, hands-on environment, we are helping build meaningful connections that strengthen Tennessee’s talent pipeline and create opportunities for the next generation of workers.”  

As presenting sponsor, Meta is proud to bring initiatives like Draft Day to our data center communities. With the technical workforce needed to build and operate facilities like our Gallatin Data Center, programs that connect students to real career pathways are critical to building the infrastructure of the future.

“It’s been an honor for Meta to invest in Be Pro Be Proud Tennessee, from its initial launch several years ago to this full-circle moment here on Draft Day. This opportunity to bring everyone from our local chambers, to our policymakers, our educators, and beyond underneath one roof is not just about workforce development, it’s about creating a stronger community.” – Tara Tenorio, Community Development Regional Manager, Meta 

“Graduation is a goal we hold for every student, but what matters even more is what happens when they walk off that stage. Have we truly prepared them for what’s next? Do they know which careers sit at the intersection of their passions and aptitudes — and once they set a career goal, do they know the route to get there? Whether through a TCAT, community college, four-year university, or directly into the workforce, we want every Sumner County graduate ready to pursue their next step. Programs like this are how we make sure that happens.” – Chase Moore, Director of Career Technical Innovation, Sumner County Schools

Be Pro Be Proud is a national workforce development initiative that introduces students to in-demand career pathways through immersive mobile workshops, advanced simulators, and hands-on activations. Through our partnership, we’re helping bring these transformative experiences to data center communities across the nation. Since 2023, Be Pro Be Proud Tennessee and Meta have engaged 50,000+ students statewide, and we’re just getting started.

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