Helping Youth Navigate Their Futures
Transcription
Helping Youth Navigate Their Futures
Initiatives 2012-2013 Annual Review Helping Youth Navigate Their Futures Steering Youth In The Right Direction It’s no secret that many Americans have struggled with finding employment since the Great Recession. Several reports show that the downturn was particularly hard on young people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Virginia the unemployment rate for teens between the ages of 16 and 19 jumped to 26 percent in 2012 —higher than the national rate of 23.5 percent. The reason is simple: most employers are more attracted to adults with more experience. That is where Opportunity Inc.’s Youth Initiatives came in. Our Youth Initiatives focused on creating programs that helped young people gain the skills and education needed to stay competitive during the twists and turns they will experience throughout their career journey. As you turn the pages, you will read about the innovative 2012-2013 Workforce Investment Act programs for in-school and out-of-school youth which featured paid internships, college tours, dualenrollment opportunities and much more. You’ll also learn about what Opportunity Inc.’s Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads was up to as it zoomed through its third year of existence offering job preparation and career exploration to young people ages 14 to 21. Our staff is proud of the progress made in 2012 as we reached over 18,000 individuals through events such as the 2012 Workforce Investment Act Youth Summit and the 2013 Teen Summer Opportunity Fair. We know that our work has just begun, and we look forward to celebrating our meaningful journey with you. Jeff Ainslie, President of Ainslie Group, Inc. Chair, Opportunity Inc. Youth Council In 2012-2013, the Opportunity Inc. Youth Council continued to work hard for the young people of Hampton Roads by developing innovative STEM education, workplace readiness and career immersion programs. The Council’s unique blending of traditional and forward-thinking curriculum is key to guiding our youth to success as they take their places in the global economy. That is why our main goal is to energize and empower the workforce at a young age in order to create a more dynamic workforce in the future. This year, we expanded our partnerships with public school systems, higher education institutions, youthserving organizations and the business community. These partnerships allowed us to maximize our reach by spending more on actual programming and less on administrative costs. The resulting opportunities for our youth include dual-enrollment courses, entrepreneurship training, robotics competitions and trade certifications. One of our newest initiatives has been providing paid internships for in-school and out-of-school students. Youth in these particular programs have been extremely successful in learning more about their desired career fields and obtaining a positive outlook on future possibilities. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 1 of 16 Youth Programs by the Numbers Funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Opportunity Inc. coordinated several career and educational enhancement programs for over 500 area youth between the ages of 16 and 21. These youth had barriers to completing high school, entering post-secondary education and entering the workforce. The programs assisted young people, in or out-of-school, with both academic and occupational learning, developing leadership skills and preparing for further education and eventual employment. The following pages provide a snapshot of our programs. State Performance Goals 51% must improve scores in reading & math 45% must graduate from school 45% must get a job or go to college Our Results 152%* 126%* 107%* * Percent of State goal achieved by Opportunity Inc. Total Number of Youth Served in Year-Round Programs for 2012-2013 Total Investment in Year-Round 2012-2013 Youth Programs 2012-2013 Annual Review page 2 of 16 In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Program Locality Served: Virginia Beach /Operated by Virginia Beach City Public Schools Students participated in STEM after-school programs and dual-enrollment opportunities that enhanced their knowledge of STEM-fields. During an after-school Robotics Club, the high school juniors and seniors constructed a Level 1 robot via online training modules with a mentor. The students competed in the annual STEM Robotics Club Competition at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Participants also had the opportunity to complete a 3-credit STEM 101 course broadcasted to their high schools through Norfolk State University. Lastly, the students participated in a STEM seminar with Junior Achievement to network with local and global STEM leaders. In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Project Gear Up! Locality Served: Portsmouth/ Operated by the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. This program focused on preparing young people for life after high school including college and career preparation. Held at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, students participated in career immersion activities including vocational assessments, paid internships, presentations by guest speakers in various professions and field trips to local businesses. Students received assistance with the college planning process by exploring post-secondary options and researching financial aid opportunities. In addition to career and college exploration, Project Gear Up! partnered with Junior Achievement to provide financial literacy education to the program participants. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 3 of 16 In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Pathways to Success Locality Served: Southampton County/ Operated by Southampton County Public Schools The Pathways to Success program focused on drop-out prevention, alternative secondary school services, summer employment, adult mentoring, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and subsidized work experience. Students obtained SOL tutoring, work readiness training and participated in STEM-related field trips to local employers and higher education institutions. During Virginia Career Week, the students learned how to start their own businesses through the guidance of industry professionals. In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 The Pruden Center’s Youth Program Services Localities Served: Isle of Wight County and Suffolk/ Operated by The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology Juniors and seniors of the Pruden Center developed their academic and workplace readiness skills through involvement in paid internships related directly to their specific career and technical programs. Internship placement sites included the City of Suffolk Mosquito Control and the Center of Veterinarian Excellence. In addition to guest speakers, students also attended field trips including a fun visit to the Elizabeth River Project’s Learning Barge to learn about sustainability and environmentally friendly design. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 4 of 16 In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Science & Technology Education Preparation (STEP) Program Locality Served: Norfolk/ Operated by Norfolk State University (NSU) The NSU STEP Program provided junior and senior students with opportunities to broaden, enhance and develop an increased interest in the science, engineering and technology fields. During NSU STEM Day, the students were exposed to the latest research advances in fields such as nano-technology, building construction and rocket science. They also participated in academic mentorship opportunities while conducting simulated research with faculty. In addition, students visited post-secondary institutions such as James Madison University and Elizabeth City State University. In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Project Launch Locality Served: Portsmouth/Operated by Old Dominion University (ODU)-Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) Located at ODU VMASC, this program allowed Portsmouth High School juniors and seniors to learn about careers that will be indemand for years to come. They attended a presentation about computer science with ODU’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team and took several field trips to places such as the APM Terminals, Lockheed Martin Center for Innovation and the Hampton Roads Sanitation Department. In addition, the participants in this program also completed financial literacy, job preparation and career exploration activities. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 5 of 16 In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 The Spartan Prep Academy Locality Served: Virginia Beach/Operated by Norfolk State University (NSU) Located at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, The Spartan Prep Academy taught students in Virginia Beach Public Schools how to prepare and succeed in college. They attended training sessions in time management, gang awareness, college applications and career options. Students were able to create career portfolios, receive SAT preparation assistance and peer mentoring. The highlight was participating in community service and field trips in the areas of cultural awareness, college visits and career fairs. In-School Youth Program: Ages 16-18 Emerging Scholars Program Localities Served: Isle of Wight County, Franklin, Southampton County, and Suffolk/ Operated by Paul D. Camp Community College (PDCCC) Located at PDCCC, this program gave qualifying students the opportunity to advance their college education by earning dual enrollment credits and learning leadership skills for the workplace. The students participated in monthly career readiness seminars including a trip to the Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads. Participants also had the opportunity to attend college tours, host a “Dress For Success Fashion Show,” and attend a STEM-based summer camp. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 6 of 16 Out-of-School Youth Program: Ages 18-21 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Youth Academy Localities Served: Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach/ Operated by Tidewater Community College The CNA Youth Academy was a three-month training program that prepared young professionals for a career in the healthcare field. The program featured job specific curriculum developed with the assistance of industry leaders and employers, workplace readiness training, classroom training that simulated a work environment, internships, and a twelve-month post employment follow-up with the employers and graduates on the job site. Out-of-School Youth Program: Ages 18-21 Building Trades Academy, Inc.’s Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training Localities Served: South Hampton Roads of Virginia/Operated by the Building Trades Academy, Inc. This training academy located in Chesapeake for aspiring building maintenance professionals was a 10 to 12 week long program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 21 residing in South Hampton Roads. Training took place in the classroom as well as the worksite where participants received hands-on experience working on a project that benefited the community. Pre-employability training, counseling, job placement and follow-up services were also provided. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 7 of 16 Out-of-School Youth Program: Ages 18-21 Spartan Crusade for Academic Success (SCAS) Localities Served: Norfolk and Portsmouth/Operated by NSU The NSU Bridge Program was established to broaden the participation of at-risk youth in the pursuit of post-secondary education. This program is comprised of three components: a rigorous academic improvement component, a series of student success seminars, and an on-campus work experience model. The academic component offers weekly enrichment coursework designed to improve the student performance level and increase students’ likelihood of admission to college. In addition to this, tutoring, cultural, and pre-college enrichment exposure will be provided. Out-of-School Youth Program: Ages 18-21 Paul D. Camp Community College (PDCCC) Bridge Program Localities Served: Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, and Suffolk/Operated by PDCCC The PDCCC Bridge Program introduces participants to post-secondary opportunities and enhances their vocational experiences through on-campus employment. This program is centered on meeting participants where they are academically, socially and vocationally, and will provide the remediation and guidance necessary to prepare them for postsecondary education or employment. The goal of this program is to provide learning opportunities that will create an environment for participants to gain life skills, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills that positions them to be successful in their pursuit of post-secondary education. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 8 of 16 Youth Career Center The Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads (YCCHR), under the general guidance of the Opportunity Inc. Youth Council, provided career exploration, job preparation and financial literacy education to youth between the ages of 14 and 21 living in the localities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Our services were provided through onsite group tours, scheduled workshops, programs and to individuals on a walk-in basis. This past year, the Center hosted a number of events such as Smart About Credit Month, where youth learned how to check their credit reports, and the week long Careers in the Visual Arts program, where youth learned about the various careers in the arts before creating masterpieces of their own. The 2013 summer season kicked off with our middle school program, Go Mad About Science. Additionally, the YCCHR hosted recruitment events, such as our 2013 Teen Summer Opportunity Fair that attracted over 1,000 attendees. Currently, the YCCHR has locations in Virginia Beach and a recently opened satellite office in Franklin at Paul D. Camp Community College bringing more intensive services to the surrounding rural communities. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 9 of 16 Since opening in September 2010, the Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads has made more than 40,000 connections in the community. Each day we link with youth, parents and community partners seeking more information on our services during business hours. Youth walk through our doors for one-on-one assistance from creating resumes to researching scholarships for college. Yet, we don’t stop there. We navigate towards our young people in classrooms, school career fairs and community youth events. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 10 of 16 It is essential for community leaders and professionals to give back to our youth in the form of knowledge and encouragement. Many would be surprised at what they can accomplish by just spending a little time with our young people as a mentor or role model. – Kevin Will, President, Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads & Youth Council Member Local professionals volunteered over 2,500 hours to help our youth discover career opportunities and develop workplace readiness skills. Whether it was teaching them how to build robots or playing an interactive game of Life, our mentors helped guide our youth during the over 96 career immersion and job preparation programs we offered. Total individuals our Mentors helped us reach in 2012-2013 2012-2013 Annual Review page 11 of 16 The Youth Career Center hosted exclusive hiring events throughout the year on behalf of several local employers. At the request of the employer, our staff provided a prescreening process that included application completion, mock interviewing, and resume development. Employers such as Gold Key PHR, Wells Fargo, Farm Fresh, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Krispy Kreme, AAA Pools and Kroger have all participated in our recruiting events! “The young people in the program stand out from the general public during job fairs and interviews. They are polished. They come dressed for success with resumes in hand and are willing to talk about the experiences they are looking for. Without a doubt, I will continue to refer other companies to the YCCHR’s staff to learn more about their recruitment events and assistance with filling vacancies.” -Dena Kimball, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Specialist I 2012-2013 Annual Review page 12 of 16 their way With so many communication tools available today, we want to make sure that anyone can gain ondemand information about the YCCHR and its services. One of our newest access avenues is our improved website which features the “Virtual Youth Career Center.” Using this tool, youth can locate self-guided job preparation, career exploration and financial literacy activities. It also features work-readiness videos, career assessments and a listserv where individuals can sign up to receive information on future workshops and events. In addition, our community and school partners can get instant information on becoming a financial supporter, volunteering, request outreach from the Center and host hiring events. There is also a section that shares the many successes of our youth. Further, youth can connect with us via our social media pages. We use these sites to follow-up with youth still searching for employment, career, and post-secondary opportunities. To check out our new site, please visit www.myyouthcareercenter.org. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 13 of 16 The Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads would like to thank our financial supporters Wells Fargo, ECPI University, Tidewater Community College, Bank of America, Suntrust and TowneBank for their generous funding. Thanks to their support, we’ve been able to provide job preparation, career exploration and financial literacy services to more than 18,000 people this year. We value our partnerships and thank our sponsors for all that they do for our youth. If you want to join these organizations by leaving your mark, please visit our website or contact us for more information! Thank you for your contributions and all you do to help navigate our youth in the right direction. 2012-2013 Annual Review page 14 of 16 Jeffrey Ainslie, President of Finance, Operations and Sales, The Ainslie Group John Andrews, Special Assistant to City Manager, Department of Development, City of Norfolk Elsie Barnes, Professor of Political Science, Norfolk State University John E. Barrett III, CEO, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center William Bell, Vice President, Human Resources & Administration, Newport News Shipbuilding Marlene Bialecki, Director of Operations, Specialty Coffee Beverage Unit, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Theresa Bryant, Vice President, Workforce Development, TCC Regional Workforce Development Center Hosey Burgess, Norfolk/Portsmouth Manager/Office Director, Virginia Employment Commission Thomas Calhoun, President, Norfolk Federation of Teachers John A. Canfield, Principal, Caroga Resources LLC Andy Chapman, Plant Manager, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies Paul W. Conco, President, Paul D. Camp Community College James P. Councill, III, Owner, Councill Financial Concepts William W. Crow, President, Virginia Ship Repair Association Cindy Curtis, Deputy City Manager, City of Virginia Beach Richard Dean, Director, Human Resources & Training, Smithfield Packing Company Joseph M. Donnelly, President, Donnelly Real Properties LLC Larry Dotolo, President, Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education Mark Dreyfus, President, ECPI University Sande Dukas, President, Controls Corp of America David K. Edwards, President/COO, W R Systems, Ltd. Stephen Fuschetti, President and CEO, Gannett Media Technologies International Donald Goldberg, President, Goldberg Consulting LLC Darryl W. Gosnell, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance Ute Heidenreich, President, TowneBank 1031 Exchange, LLC Kirk Houston, Sr., Sr. Pastor, Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church, Chairman, Norfolk School Board Paul J. Hughes, Manager, South Hampton Roads Office, Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services Clarissa McAdoo, Executive Director, Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Carol McCormack, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of South Hampton Roads Delceno C. Miles, President, The Miles Agency Mary D. McGovern, Senior Vice President, Divaris Real Estate Inc. BarBara Murphy, Project Director, AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program William L. Nusbaum, Partner, Williams Mullen Law Firm Lisa T. Perry, Director, Economic Development, Isle of Wight County Ron Ritter, Senior Vice President, On Point, LLC Jacquelyn Scott, Director, Portsmouth Department of Social Services David Stuckwisch, Superintendent, Portsmouth Public Schools Edith White, President and CEO, Urban League of Hampton Roads Inc. Tom Winter, Director, Planning and Staffing, Norfolk Southern Corporation James Wofford, General Manager, MacArthur Center Steven C. Wright, Director, Chesapeake Economic Development 2012-2013 Annual Review page 15 of 16 The Opportunity Inc. Youth Council, a group concerned with helping young people, develops the programs funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) geared towards preparing youth for graduation and employment. The Council develops these programs in partnership with organizations that provide support for in and out-of-school youth between the ages of 14 and 21 in the areas of career exploration, education, leadership development, workplace readiness skills and occupational skills training. Jeffrey Ainslie, President of Finance, Operations and Sales, The Ainslie Group Elsie Barnes, Professor of Political Science, Norfolk State University Barbara Brinson, Youth Coordinator, Youth Opportunities Office, City of Virginia Beach Thomas Calhoun, President, Norfolk Federation of Teachers Tammy Carlson, Human Resources Director, Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast Renee Ricks Felts, Interim Dean, Occupational & Technical Programs, Paul D. Community College Linda Filippi, Executive Director, Tidewater Youth Services Commission Kim Garrett, Vice President/Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo Bank Alice Jones, Director of Student and Alumni Programs, Old Dominion University Pat Konopnicki, Director, Office of Technical & Career Education, Virginia Beach Schools Richard E. Mabe, Career Transition Services Manager, Virginia Job Corps Corey McCray, Director, The Pruden Center for Industry & Technology Johnny J. Moye, Supervisor, Chesapeake Public Schools Career and Technical Education Instructional Services Center Martha Razor, Early Childhood Specialist, WHRO Kevin Will, President, Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads Yvette V. Young, Vice President, Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. Were you excited to read about the various ways to get involved with Opportunity, Inc’s Youth Initiatives? Contact us to make a difference in the lives of the young people across Hampton Roads! Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads 4554 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 990 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (757) 233-8686 [email protected] www.myyouthcareercenter.org 2012-2013 Annual Review page 16 of 16
Similar documents
2013-2014 Annual Review
Paul W. Conco, President, Paul D. Camp Community College James P. Councill, III, Owner, Councill Financial Concepts William W. Crow, President, Virginia Ship Repair Association Cindy Curtis, Deputy...
More information