The Youth Council of the Centralina Workforce Development Board has many good stories to tell. Listed below are a few from the archives. Click here for the most recent stories.

 

P.A.L.S Project -

Empowering Children and Parents in Lincoln County

The Community Empowerment Center in Lincolnton has developed a program call the P.A.L.S. Project to produce intergenerational improvements within families by offering skill building and educational enhancement. P.A.L.S. stands for Parents And Children Learning Simultaneously. The Project provides desktop computers to parents and children in the home for six (6) months.

The program was created to raise the skill levels of both youth and adults to enable them to function in our increasingly sophisticated workplace and society.
Parents develop the high-impact skills needed by all employees as well as those skills needed for promotion or unique to a specific job.

With this program, parents will reinforce their child's efforts in educational enhancement by learning along side them! While assisting the child in the WINGS curriculum, parents gain skill and knowledge through the Instructional System Inc. (ISI) Program. The WINGS curriculum involves a series of educational activities, which include cognitive, linguistic and physical skills that are vital for school success. The Instructional System Inc. (ISI) Program involves training in basic math, reading, and life skills.

The PALS Project offers the following services:

  • Complete computer packages featuring ISI software, the WINGS learning system, word processing, and financial management.
  • Free technical support and computer application assistance.
  • Free developmental assessments for participating children.
  • Home computer usage for six (6) months.
  • Community and educational resources.
  • Employment referrals and potential placement.
  • Goals assessment, monitoring, and follow-up.

The P.A.L.S Program is open to Lincoln County Residents and serves children 3 - 8 years of age. There is no cost to the participant, however an application and screening process is required.

For more information about The Community Empowerment Center and the P.A.L.S Project please contact Anissa Hannon at 704.736.4888 or by email at anissacec@juno.com .

"S.C.O.O.P"
Stanly County One-on-One Program Helps At-Risk Youth

The Stanly County One-on-One Program, or SCOOP, a non-profit agency formed in 1994, helps youth in Stanly County by finding screened trained volunteers willing to share at least two hours a week of their lives to help the youth see a positive, mature, consistent role model.

Volunteers for the SCOOP Program agree to meet weekly with their youth for a one-year commitment. The "matches" may do a variety of activities, including going to the local YMCA, working on homework, going out to dinner, camping out, and anything the young person and volunteer agree would be enriching.

The program also provides group activities such as lake parties, trips to Emerald Pointe Water Park, Carowinds, and a Christmas party. SCOOP has several volunteers who have been active for more than five years, including, "Doug", who is in his eighth year and is mentoring his eighth child. Successful young people in the program include, "Brad," who started the program in a group home but landed his first job while being mentored. "Justin" also spent a year in a group home but successfully completed his time there and is now an "A" student and star football player at a local high school.

The SCOOP Program is always in need of volunteers willing to commit a small portion of their time each week to make a difference in a child's life today.

For more information, contact Larry Hyde, Director, at 704.986.2038. SCOOP is a Governor's One-on-One Program member and is a United Way funded agency. Honors with On The Job Training


Mr. Rick Smith, Volunteer Mentor with youth SCOOP participant, Jeffrey.

Centralina Youth Helps with Pillowtex Efforts

Miss Reyna Baustita, a Workforce Investment Act Youth participant through Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council, volunteered to assist former Pillowtex employees who are Hispanic with translating initial information at the JobLink Resource Service Center on August 13, 2003. Reyna translated information regarding benefits such as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), Workforce Investment Act Services (WIA), health insurance, food stamps, and unemployment insurance benefits. "Reyna enjoyed her experience helping others and was amazed at how many resources were available to the Hispanic community," said Ms. Dawn Sims, Reyna's case manager. Reyna is working to achieve her GED and attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Reyna Bausitia is originally from Mexico and has been a resident of the United States since July of 1999.

For more information about the Workforce Investment Act Youth Program in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, please call 704.633.6633.

For more information about how you can help former Pillowtex employees please visit: www.centralinaworks.com/pillowtex.htm

Ms. Reyna Baustita, Centralina Youth who volunteered
her time to help former Pillowtex Employees.

I -Care, Inc. Pays Tribute to Youth Achievement in Iredell County

I-Care, Inc. held its annual Workforce Investment Act Youth Awards Banquet Thursday, April 10, 2003 at the Statesville Civic Center. Mr. Billy Thompson, teacher and coach at West Iredell Middle School was the guest speaker. The Workforce Investment Act Youth Program serves young people ages 14-21. The year-round program provides academic learning, work experience, summer employment opportunities, and supportive services.

The banquet was a great success honoring 42 youth and their accomplishments in the program. Each young person in the Workforce Investment Act Program received a certificate and participating seniors were awarded with plaques. Top achievers in the program received special recognition. These awards were presented in the following categories:

  • Most Scholastic - Ms. Sha Faggart
  • Student Athlete - Mr. DeAngelo Savoy & Mr. Walter Horne
  • Most Improved - Ms. Terry Roseboro
  • Most Dedicated - Mr. Jamal Moore
  • Best Attitude - Ms. Tyshema Jordan
  • Black History Essays - Ms. Sha Faggart, Mr. Walter Horne, and Ms. Terry Roseboro

The Awards Banquet not only celebrated youth achievement, it also commended worksites that employed youth for their hard work and dedication. A plaque was presented to the following employers in appreciation for all they have contributed to help the youth of Iredell County become productive and self-sufficient adults:

  • Employment Security Commission - Statesville
    and Mooresville Centers
  • Winnie Hooper Center
  • South Statesville Skills Center
  • Salvation Army Thrift Store
  • Statesville Parks and Recreation · Social Security Administration
  • Iredell-Statesville School System
  • Success Institute (NC Charter School)

Over 100 people attended the I-Care, Inc. Workforce Investment Act Awards Banquet, including parents, teachers, and worksite supervisors. Ms. Mamie Houston, Director of the South Statesville Skills Center received "Worksite Supervisor of the Year Award." Tina Tate, I-Care, Inc. WIA Case Manager, stated, "Ms. Houston has gone beyond her call of duty. She is a great asset to the program!" I-Care, Inc. and the Workforce Investment Act Program are very proud of all the youth they serve.

High School Seniors Ms. Tyshema Jordan, Mr.DeAngelo Savoy, Ms. Sha Faggart, & Ms. Chastity Speaks receive recognition plaques at the I-Care, Inc. Awards Banquet.

 

YES Conference
A Great Success

Students from high schools in Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools attended the workforce development Youth Employability Skill Training (YES) Conference Friday, March 21, 2003 from 8 am - 2:45 pm. Concord Builders presented the conference and NorthEast Medical Center hosted the event.

Gayle Deal, NorthEast Medical Center Business Health Services Executive Director, presented opening remarks. The students received a "Job Hunting 101 Survival Kit" which included useful information on resume writing, filling out applications, interviewing, and ways to keep a job once you are hired.

Following the opening session, the students spilt into groups and went to concurrent workshops on various topics. The workshop presenters included, Thomas Barksdale (The Barksdale Foundation), Melvin Herring (The Barksdale Foundation), Ken Hardin (NorthEast Medical Center), and Cyndie Mynatt, Ben Mynatt Pontiac, Buick, and GMC. Students listened to the presenters discuss ways to become a leader, how to be successful, service excellence, and a personal testimony of how to follow and achieve your dreams.

Students enjoyed lunch provided by NorthEast Medical Center while having the opportunity to hear Thomas Barksdale, a motivational speaker and trainer from The Barksdale Foundation. After lunch students received a copy of Mr. Barksdale's book, "It's All About You" A Young Adult's Guide to Positive Living and had the opportunity to have their copy of the book signed by the author.

Other sponsors of the conference included: Pass & Seymour Legrand, Staples, Cress Brothers, Sundrop Bottling, Time Warner Cable, and Cabarrus County Building Industry Association. All was made possible through the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the YES conference, please contact Cornelia Kerr at 704.782.2000 ext. 22.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants Johanna Moon (left) and Shaneka McCray (Right) attend the YES Conference at NorthEast Medical Center."

Geared Up 4 Success - "Where Dreams Meet Skills" Kick Off

Geared Up 4 Success - "Were Dreams Meet Skills" held its Kick Off Celebration Friday, February 14, 2003 at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. Geared Up 4 Success is an educational initiative for middle and high school students in Rowan County. The program was developed by the local Work Force Development Alliance, which includes representatives from the Rowan-Salisbury School System, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, local business, agencies, municipalities, and private citizens. The mission of the program is: "To educate and to promote the diverse benefits of skilled, technical careers in Rowan County. Geared Up 4 Success has four primary goals:

  • To educate students about the many exciting & rewarding career choices
  • To promote the plan benefits to parents, educators, and your community
  • To provide technical training and skills development to prepare youth
  • To expand public and private partnerships to invest in technical training and skills development via scholarship and awards' incentives.

Mr. Jeff Smith, Chair of the Workforce Education & Development Division at the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Carl Repsher, Chair of the Rowan County Chamber Workforce Development Committee, opened the kick off event. Dr. Jerry Chandler from Rowan Cabarrus Community College reviewed the role of the local college and Rowan Salisbury School Superintendent, Dr. Wiley Doby also spoke about the school's role in actively working with youth, parents, and educators to connect them as part of the team. There was a video presentation, featuring local business and industry, and a youth that received a scholarship spoke about her experience in the technology programs in Rowan County Schools and her goals for the future. The occasion ended with a question and answer session for the audience.

For more information about the Geared Up 4 Success initiative please call 1.866.GearedUp or visit www.GearedUp4Success.com.

 

  

Stanly County Schools Partner with Stanly Community College

Stanly County Schools, in partnership with Stanly Community College, is pleased to offer two new courses in Career and Technical Education. The new HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) program is open to high school seniors only for the 2003/2004 school year. The basic course teaches the skills needed to work in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry. The program consists of two courses using the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) standardized training process. The first course consists of an introduction to HVAC, trade math, tools of the trade, piping, soldering and brazing, basic electricity, comfort cooling, and comfort heating. The second course introduces students to air distribution systems, chimneys, vents, and flues, servicing skills, alternating current, basic electronics, electric heating, control circuit troubleshooting, accessory and optional equipment, metering devices, compressors, heat pumps, and leak detection, evacuation, recovery, and charging.

There are various benefits of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Contren Learning Series including:

  • Competency-based and contains measurable objectives
  • Developed by industry experts and trainers
  • Modular in format and can be used for task training
  • Each level meets or exceeds Apprenticeship, Training, Employer, and Labor Services (ATELS) requirements of 144 classroom hours

Each semester of HVAC carries one credit of high school graduation credit. HVAC II is a level 2 "completer" course in the College Tech Prep course of study in the construction pathway. Enrollment will be limited to 20 students or 5 per high school. Classes will meet in the Vocational Annex at Stanly Community College Monday through Friday from 2PM - 4PM.

To find out more information on how to prepare today for a career in the expanding heating and air conditioning industry please contact Ken Edwards, Stanly County Schools CTE Director @ 704.983.5151 or Bill Lefevers, Stanly Community College HVAC program coordinator @ 704.991.0260.

Looking From the Other Side of the Fence

The Rowan-Salisbury School-to-Career Council and Time Warner Cable Host the First Annual "Walk in My Shoes" Project

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go back to school? Or how it would feel to teach a class in the 21st century? If you're a teacher, have you ever wondered what life would be like in a big corporation? These questions are answered in Rowan County's Walk in My Shoes project, a joint program sponsored by Time Warner Cable, Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and the Rowan-Salisbury School-to-Career Council.

Linda James, Time Warner Cable's Education Services Coordinator in Salisbury, came to the cable industry with a background in education. Time Warner Cable has a strong commitment to education, and James was hired to serve as a liaison between the school system and the company. James realized early on that students were not graduating from high school with the workplace skills that businesses need.

After joining Time Warner Cable, James became involved with School-to-Career Council and the Business Alliance Committee. Through these organizations, which work to form alliances between businesses and education, James learned that the school system had instituted a shadowing program with a local business as an attempt to bridge the gap in workforce development; however, participation in the program had declined. James recognized the opportunity, and spearheaded efforts to start the Walk In My Shoes program in Rowan County. Through Walk In My Shoes, educators are given the opportunity to shadow one person at a local business during the summer. They are there not to work as a summer employee, but to learn about the business - the skills needed to work there, how the business operates and the kinds of jobs the business offers.

Through the experience of working at a business, the educators learn what kinds of skills their students need to compete in the workforce. Educators receive Continuing Education (CEU) credits for participating in the program, keeping a journal of their experiences and attending a Walk in My Shoes luncheon in the fall. A committee selects the educators through an application process, and the teachers and principals shadow their businesses in June.

Businesses, in turn, learn about the education process through the program. To select the business participants, the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce sends invitations to its membership, encouraging the businesses to participate. The businesses agree to assign one person to be shadowed by an educator. The business representative also keeps a journal, is invited to shadow the educator at his/her school, and participates in the luncheon. The business representatives are also given the opportunity to speak to a class and the educator's school about their particular field.

In each of the journals, educators and business representatives are given specific questions to answer regarding what they've learned as a result of Walk In My Shoes. Following this year's program, James collected all of the journals, put them together and published a book, which she presented to all of the Walk In My Shoes participants.

At the end of the program, Time Warner Cable sponsors a fall luncheon for all participants, giving them the opportunity to share their Walk In My Shoes experiences.

James has already seen positive results from Walk In My Shoes this year; Salisbury Post ran an article about the program and one of the local businesses that participated donated money to local high schools to purchase much needed equipment. She has gotten positive feedback from the educators, the businesses and the sponsoring organizations, and looks forward to repeated success next year.

For more information please contact Linda James, Time Warner Cable's Education Services Coordinator, at linda.james@twcable.com.


Ms. Linda James, Time Warner Cable Education Services Coordinator and Mr. Eric Leazer, Director of Workforce Development for Rowan-Salisbury Schools partner to host the first annual "Walk in My Shoes" project.

Mooresville Graded School District and JobLink Partners Awarded Tech Prep Grant

The Mooresville Graded School District along with the Iredell-Statesville Schools and Mitchell Community College has been awarded a Tech Prep Grant. The $184,000 grant will be utilized to prepare students to enter the community college ready to be challenged by one of the many technical curriculums. One of the problems of the past has been the lack of publicity about the dual enrollment and Huskins classes that students can take while still in high school. A marketing campaign will be implemented to make the total community aware of the vital resources available at the local community college.

Highlights of the program will include a summer algebra remediation program for students entering the 9th grade. Many of the technical careers require an understanding of advanced math. If the students master algebra as a freshman they will have opportunities to take higher levels of math. This will also reduce the number of students that have to take remedial math when entering the community college.

Mitchell Community College presently offers a number of Huskins classes to the students at Mooresville High School. Students at N.F. Woods Advanced Technology Center have expressed an interest in expanding offering in areas such as cosmetology. As a part of the grant more emphasis will be placed on giving students articulated credits for the technical classes taken in high school. Students at N.F Woods Advanced Technology Center were among the top 10% of schools in the state for their end of the year test scores. Classes offered at the center provide the students with state and national certification. Computer Engineering offers A+ certification; Allied Health Science offers CNA certification; Early Childhood Education offers Childcare credentials; and E commerce offers students opportunities in web design.

To graduate from high school students must choose a course of study. This module will lead the students into their chosen career.Through the Tech Prep Grant more students will be able to achieve their career goal.

For more information contact Judy Honeycutt at 704-663-3274.

Kids Want Parents to Talk

The 5th Annual Walls to Climb Youth and Family Event was sponsored by the Anson County Partnership for Children in recognition of October as National "Let's Talk" month. The event was held at South Piedmont Community College, Polkton Campus, and turned out to be another fun-filled, informative event for all. The premise of the event was to encourage dialogue between youth, their parents, and other responsible adults in the community. Recognizing that meaningful, interactive conversation between youth and adults is central to prevention of risk-taking behavior, this was a local initiative to encourage those much-needed conversations. The youth themselves have said as much in their responses on a recent "Youth Behavior Survey" conducted by members of the Healthy Ansonians Substance Abuse Sub-committee. In Response to a question that asked youth, "What could adults do to help you not get into trouble?" youth overwhelmingly said they want parents to talk to them.

The 5th Annual Walls to Climb Youth and Family Event addressed topics kids want to talk about: opening session by KaratExpert - James Dozier (Rocky Mount) emphasized the need to have and achieve dreams, Female Wellness, STD's/AIDS, Becoming a Woman, Becoming a Man, Teens and Dating Violence, an opportunity to challenge "the Wall" (provided by Inner Peaks), and a theatrical presentation by K.E.Y. (Keep Empowering Youth) Players entitled "No Way!" to end the day with a strong adolescent pregnancy prevention message.

The event would not have taken place without the help of various volunteers who participated in all phases of the event: Sharon Knotts (Wadesboro Primary Care), Reggie Singleton (The Male Place - Charlotte), Rondy Green (Sandhills Mental Health), Health Department representatives - Maggie Gibson, Betty Russell, Gail Horne, Eleanor Plummer, and Rosetta Strudivant, South Piedmont Community College representatives- Amy Hayes, Butch Wynn, Alan Odom, Kelly Horne, Christy Honeycutt, and Early Childhood Education students, NC Cooperative Extension representatives - Alicia Molaro, Stephanie Williams, and Roshunda Blount, ACTS, Johnie Pettiford (Head Start), Devon Pettiford (Kids, Inc.), Wadesboro Police Officers Mims, Smith, and Spencer, Dr. Samuels (ARMS), Wanda Garris and Olivia DeBerry (Anson Children's Center), John Nasef (EMS), Leslie Hannah (Lilesville Elementary School), Chuck Tyson, Mike Maness, Shane Carter (NC State Employees Credit Union), DSS resentatives Keisha Dunlap and Terry Heilig, Linda Powe (Anson Challenge Academy), Anson County Domestic Violence Coalition representatives Michelle Meredith, Nicole Capel, and Shawn Weigman, and staff of the Anson County Partnership for Children.

As the event evolves from year to year, we are open to suggestions that will help in planning next year's event to meet the ever-changing needs of youth and families in Anson County. Call us at Anson County Partnership for Children with your comments (704) 694-2360. Throughout the year, remember to 'keep talking', it makes a difference.

A Success Story

We salute Tonya Clark on the outstanding work that she is doing in the WIA Youth Program in Stanly County. Tonya comes to us as the oldest of a single parent family of four. She wanted to make positive changes in her life after quitting high school. She learned about the Work Prep Program from her mother who had picked up a pamphlet at the local post office.

The Work Prep Program in Stanly County continues to motivate youth in the schools and workforce. We are very proud of the work that Tonya Clark is doing in one of our local agencies.

Tonya is a seventeen-year-old youth that entered the Work Prep Program for out of school youth in October 200l. She wanted to obtain her GED certificate. She was directed by Mrs. Daisy Washington to enter Stanly Community College in the Literacy Program. Tonya entered the program in October 2001 and obtained her GED certificate in December 2001.

Tonya is presently working a 25-hour work week at Kiddie Kare II, which is a daycare center in Albemarle, NC. She enjoys working with children, and has set a goal to obtain an Early Childhood degree from Stanly Community College.

We are very proud of Tonya, and wish her luck in her future endeavors.

 
 

©Centralina Workforce Development Board, 2004.