A few weeks ago, Winnipeg's Seven Oaks School Division and Higher Purpose (HP) Change co-sponsored an event that included over 200 members of the city's business, not-for-profit, and education communities. There were speeches from Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, Business Council of Manitoba Vice-President Kevin Chief, students, mentors, and school leaders, along with interactive dialogue between attendees. The event was part of a new relationship the School Division has developed with HP Change leader David Angus, the former President of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, and his co-founding partner, Scott Angus. Everyone was gathered for the same reason: a desire to build greater partnerships between community and schools.We know that our world is a rapidly changing place. We recognize that traditional economic sectors and jobs are being impacted and replaced by rapid advancements in technology. People are choosing career paths that aren't as linear as their parents' were, and the physical spaces within which we work are being challenged and reconstructed daily.  Educators and business leaders alike are trying to make sense of these changes that are altering the way we experience the world.As baby boomers retire and a new generation of learners gets set to tackle contemporary challenges, the time is right for a refocusing of the relationship between schools and industry. We don't believe that high school is a finish line; we see it as a launching pad. One of the best things we can do to help foster curiosity and skill development is to expose young people to what's happening out in the “real world” earlier on in their journey, and to strive to create a meaningful experience that centres around their passions and interests.'Big Picture Learning' is the name given to the model of education within which the Met Schools operate.  Met schools, which offer students a different look at education, originated in the Metropolitan region of Providence, Rhode Island in the mid 1990s under the leadership of its brilliant co-founders, educational pioneers Eliot Washor and Dennis Littky.The Met School Mantra is One student at a time.  With Tuesday and Thursday reserved for internships at work placements in the community, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday in class, with a focus on project-based learning, students get an education in an authentic way that is tailored to, and driven by, their needs and interests. Rigour, Relevance, and Relationships serve as the foundational principles of this educational experience.There are Met schools all around the world including in the United States, Australia, Israel, India, New Zealand, England, and Barbados. There are only two Met Schools in Canada. Both are located in Winnipeg, both in the Seven Oaks School Division (and both on Jefferson Avenue).During the nearly 10 years since the first Met School started in Winnipeg, there have been thousands of internship sites, mentors, and interns that have interacted, providing real world experiences, knowledge, and skills, to both employers and future employers alike.  It is a true partnership.Here's an example of a real life Met internship: James owns a comic book and gaming store. Haakin is a Grade 10 student who wants to follow his passion for gaming.  While at his internship, Haakin, 16, learns so much more than just the ins and outs of gaming. The store owner talks to the student about credit scores, inventory, commercial leasing, customer service, tax filing, and business development.  James even goes so far as to give Haakin a monthly gaming catalogue and challenges Haakin to convince him as to why they should order five products of his choice. In the end, James orders three of those products.During this time, Haakin is working on developing skills in business, mathematics, entrepreneurship, community organizing, customer service.  Perhaps most importantly, Haakin's learning is a part of something that is meaningful to him.  All of this valuable learning stems from Haakin's own passions and interests. For James' part, not only does he get some extra help around the store and the satisfaction of mentorship, but his time with Haakin also helps reinforce his own knowledge of his practice, and sparks in him a new level of energy and motivation.This type of relationship is not rare in a Met School experience.  HP Change and Winnipeg's Seven Oaks School Division are focused on helping expose schools, students, families, and local business to one another through mutually beneficial meaningful engagement.  Community and business leaders across Canada should explore how Met Schools have embraced this novel approach to education.  When in Winnipeg, take an opportunity to visit.  Big Picture Learning can work anywhere – it's been proven around the world. With will and determination, schools can begin to offer more choice to students looking for an experience that puts them at the heart of the model.And, here in Winnipeg, we encourage more of our business leaders to consider becoming a mentor.  Are there projects that you have on the back burner that just need some attention without taking away from overall productivity? Why not consider working with an intern from the Met schools who can add a valuable voice. You never know, you might be taking on your next CEO.We invite community and business leaders to be a part of the bigger picture, because as Dennis Littky, co-founder of the Met School says, education is everyone's business.Ben Carr is Principal of the Maples Met School in Winnipeg.