Latham, OH — At Western Latham High School in Pike County, something extraordinary is happening. What began as a vision to better prepare students for life after graduation has grown into a vibrant, student-powered network of businesses known as the West LA Ecosystem — a model of innovation, community engagement, and career readiness.
Led by Superintendent Brock Brewster, a longtime advocate of the GRIT Project, the West LA Ecosystem is more than a collection of student-run enterprises. It’s a living example of how rural schools can build capacity from within, using local partnerships, student data, and real-world experiences to shape futures.
“We pick these businesses because they represent something that lives everywhere,” Brewster said. “Coffee shops, food trailers — these are staples in every small town. Our students are learning how to run them, manage them, and serve their community.”
From Vision to Reality
Thanks to funding and support from the GRIT Project and advocacy from Future Plans, the school built a career development center that now houses a coffee shop, food truck and grill, t-shirt shop, media center, and soon, an automotive detailing business and fitness center. Each program is student-led, with young people making decisions about scheduling, budgeting, inventory, and customer service.
The GRIT Connection: Building Capacity Through Future Plans Five Steps
The GRIT Project’s mission is to build capacity in communities by helping students utilize the Future Plans five- Step Process- assess, coach, discover, prepare, and place — and Western Latham is doing all five, right on campus.
- Assess: Using Future Plans data, the school identifies student interests. For example, 30% of students matched with audio/visual careers, and 34% with hospitality — directly informing the creation of the media center and food-based businesses.
- Coach: Students receive mentorship in business operations, leadership, and teamwork. Brewster and staff guide students through challenges, helping them grow into confident decision-makers.
- Discover: Students explore career paths through hands-on experience. Whether it’s producing media for community events or managing a coffee shop, they’re discovering passions and talents early.
- Prepare: Students build real-world skills — time management, customer service, budgeting — and even earn money toward their driver’s licenses through work in the ecosystem.
- Place: Students transition into paid roles within the ecosystem, gaining experience that mirrors traditional employment. Some even save hundreds of dollars in personal bank accounts — a first for many.
A Community Reconnected
The impact of West LA extends far beyond the school walls. Students produce funeral tribute videos, support veterans banquets, and partner with local businesses for training and mentorship. The upcoming West LA Automotive program will be led by a local expert, and the fitness center — built entirely through donations — will soon open to the public.
“Everything we do is about bringing back a piece of our community,” Brewster said. “Our kids are learning how to serve, how to lead, and how to work together.”
A Culture of Belonging
Perhaps most inspiring is the way West LA has transformed the school’s culture. Students from all backgrounds — athletes, quiet kids, foreign exchange students — are working side by side, building friendships and learning from one another.
“It’s not just a handful of kids,” Brewster emphasized. “It’s all the kids. They all have their roles, and they all depend on each other.”
A Model for Rural Innovation
The West LA Ecosystem is a shining example of what’s possible when schools, communities, and students come together with purpose. It’s a model that other rural districts can look to — not just for career readiness, but for community revitalization.
“We’re not just preparing kids for jobs,” Brewster said. “We’re preparing them to build the future of Pike County.”