about
wayfinder initiative
Wayfinder Initiative expands access to learning experiences that begin with curiosity and lead to opportunity.
Through the Wayfinder Community Learning Lab, we provide hands-on, phenomena-driven learning experiences for students, families, educators, and adults. Our programs support academic growth, creative expression, workforce exploration, and community connection by helping learners investigate the world, develop practical skills, and communicate what they know.
We believe learning should be:
Rigorous and Relevant
Connected to real people, real work, and real futures
Creative and practical
Accessible and inclusive
Our goal is to serve as a grounding place for the Gulf Coast community where learning strengthens lives and opens doors.
Director of Engagement and Operations
Jillian@wayfinder-ms.org
JILLIAN PHILLIPS
Director of STEM Innovation and Workforce Development
Zenas@wayfinder-ms.org
ZENAS CAPPIE
Treasurer–
Workforce & Career Education
DR. JAN SEARS
Board Member– Student Pathways & Postsecondary Readiness
EMILY SNELL
AMBER DESCHAMP
Operations and Outreach Coordinator
Whitney@wayfinder-ms.org
WHITNEY QUAVE
Founder & Director of Strategic Impact
Info@wayfinder-ms.org
KRISTY WHEAT
our boaRD
Chair – Community Development and Local Partnerships
Melinda Miller
Board Member- STEM Education & Workforce Pathways
Melinda Miller
Timothy Thrash
Board Member- Healthcare Administration
Jillian Vallo
Board Member– Community Engagement and Partnerships
How People Use the Space
a place for students
A Place for Families
A Place for Homeschoolers
A Place for Adults
A Place for the Community
A Place for Young Adults (Ages 16–25)
- School field trips and hands-on learning experiences
- After-school tutoring and enrichment
- Project-based and media-rich learning
- Public showcases that build confidence and communication skills
A Place for Students
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Family STEM and family learning nights
- Community showcases and premieres
- Intergenerational experiences that bring learning home.
A Place for Families
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Cohort-based learning opportunities
- Access to labs, tools, and collaborative experiences
- Social learning environments rooted in rigor and creativity
a place for homeschoolers
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Workforce exploration and career exposure
- Skill-building workshops and certifications
- Industry-led learning experiences
- Mentorship and pathways to next steps
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Makers & Mocktails nights
- Trivia and karaoke in a welcoming environment
- Creative workshops and lifelong learning opportunities
- Space to gather, learn, and reconnect
a place for adults
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Birthday parties and celebrations
- Corporate and team-building experiences
- Professional learning for educators
- Meetings and events for civic, faith-based, and business organizations
a place for the community
a place for students
A Place for Families
A Place for Homeschoolers
A Place for Adults
A Place for the Community
A Place for Young Adults (Ages 16–25)
- School field trips and hands-on learning experiences
- After-school tutoring and enrichment
- Project-based and media-rich learning
- Public showcases that build confidence and communication skills
A Place for Students
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Family STEM and family learning nights
- Community showcases and premieres
- Intergenerational experiences that bring learning home.
A Place for Families
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Cohort-based learning opportunities
- Access to labs, tools, and collaborative experiences
- Social learning environments rooted in rigor and creativity
a place for homeschoolers
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Workforce exploration and career exposure
- Skill-building workshops and certifications
- Industry-led learning experiences
- Mentorship and pathways to next steps
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Makers & Mocktails nights
- Trivia and karaoke in a welcoming environment
- Creative workshops and lifelong learning opportunities
- Space to gather, learn, and reconnect
a place for adults
a place for students
a place for families
a place for homeschoolers
a place for adults
a place for the community
a place for young adults (ages 16–25)
- Birthday parties and celebrations
- Corporate and team-building experiences
- Professional learning for educators
- Meetings and events for civic, faith-based, and business organizations
a place for the community
Wayfinder is designed to be used every day, every night, and every weekend, serving different needs while holding one shared purpose: growth through learning and connection.
Workforce & Industry Partnerships
Why the Arts Matter
- Expose learners to career pathways and emerging fields
- Host industry-led workshops and demonstrations
- Offer skill-building experiences aligned to real workforce needs
- Provide free or low-cost learning opportunities supported by sponsors
At Wayfinder, the arts are not extracurricular. They are essential.
We integrate creative disciplines because they help learners make sense of ideas, represent understanding, and communicate meaning. Through media production, design, sound, storytelling, and performance, learners transform knowledge into something visible, shareable, and impactful.
We integrate creative disciplines because they help learners make sense of ideas, represent understanding, and communicate meaning. Through media production, design, sound, storytelling, and performance, learners transform knowledge into something visible, shareable, and impactful.
By bringing industry into a community-centered learning space, we help learners see what is possible and how to move forward. In our model, the arts function as sensemaking systems, representation tools, cultural technologies, and meaning amplifiers. This ensures learning does not stay abstract or hidden, but becomes part of the community’s shared understanding.
We actively partner with local industries, businesses, and organizations to:
our Community partners
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