Labor Day is often thought of as the unofficial end of summer. A long weekend, a final trip to the pool, maybe one last barbecue before the season changes, but at its heart, Labor Day is about something much bigger, which is the people who make our communities work.

We see finished products all around us, but what we don’t always see is the person behind it. And at Pima Community College, the next generation of people ready to build your community are preparing for the workforce.

Workforce development is about more than preparing someone for a job. It’s about giving people the opportunity to build something for themselves and in turn, build something for their community. That is what makes education so powerful. A skill learned today can become a career tomorrow. A credential can open a door. An opportunity can change the direction of a life. And behind every one of those opportunities is a community that chooses to invest in them.

Through the support of donors, partners and friends of Pima Community College, Pima Foundation helps provide students with access to scholarships, programs, resources and learning environments that prepare them for what comes next.

Because when we invest in students, we aren’t just investing in their future. We are investing in the people who will care for our families, build our homes, keep our businesses moving and strengthen the community we all call home.

This Labor Day, I’m thinking about the work behind the work.

The early mornings. The long days. The determination. The people who keep showing up, learning, growing and moving forward.

And for the students at Pima, the work is just beginning.

Here’s to the people building what comes next.