Youth employment program serves more than 100 applicants
JUNEAU - Alaska's Educational Resource Center and its community service division, The Learning Connection, were recipients of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (also known as stimulus funds) for a summer youth employment program.
Modeled after TLC'S highly-successful JobX program which places 16- to 24-year-olds in subsidized work positions at a variety of work sites, the summer program placed more than 60 Juneau youth in paid on-the-job training positions in industries that range from mining to healthcare. An additional 23 youth received job application and work search assistance, and another 12 were employed in Sitka and Yakutat.
"My experience with Job X has been very positive," said James Hefley, a youth worked who entered the program in July with limited experience.
Hefley interned this summer as an electrician with Perseverance Theatre and as a laborer with Bicknell Construction Inc., where he now works on a full-time permanent basis.
"With the support of the Department of Labor and this summer stimulus funding, it has been great to see so many youth grow, learn new skills, and gain confidence in their abilities," said TLC Youth Job Developer Lu Seapy. "I hope to see many opportunities like this in the future."
Along with job placement and resume and work search assistance, youth in this program also completed paid employment and work readiness training such as Alaska Host Customer Service Training, first aid/CPR, Alaska Food Workers program, and training in financial management and budgeting. The programs also worked cooperatively with The Learning Connection's GED program by helping youth prepare and pass the high-school equivalency exam.
This program and JobX are funded through the Alaska Department of Labor, Division of Business Partnerships, Workforce Investment Act for Youth, and the Alaska Youth First Initiative grants.
For information about JobX and other TLC workforce development program, please contact Elizabeth Dahl at 586-5718.