Program helps teens gain pre-employment skills and develop career strategy

“This summer local area young adults were given the opportunity to gain pre-employment skills, develop an individualized career strategy, network with local community resources, attain a resume entry, and earn a little spending money through Big Five Community Services, Inc.’s Summer Youth Program” said Kerry Manning, director of the Southern Workforce Board.

Big Five is the service provider for the Southern Workforce Board’s (SWB) Workforce Investment Act’s funds which also included additional funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars this summer.

In June 2009, more than 100 young adults began their summer employment work experience with a two day work readiness skills development program that centered on career planning, life skills training, and pre-employment skill development. Following the work readiness skills development training, the participants began a work experience at private and public worksites under the direction of qualified personnel. When possible, work experience assignments were planned to closely align with the young adults’ career goals within the workplace environment.

Big Five Community Services and the SWB also utilized a youth participant studying to be a teacher to provide one-on-one tutoring to any youth who was in need of additional basic skills. This young lady travelled to the worksites and provided tutoring each week for each participant in need of the extra help.

As a result of the SWB’s “Green” Initiative, Big Five also recruited youth to participate in various green jobs this summer. This project was done in partnership with various employers who were adding green initiatives into their already existing businesses such as recycling, landscaping, transferring paperwork to microfilm/microfiche, habitat preservation, and energy conservation. Each youth received on the job training from each of their supervisors within the various jobs. They learned about the importance of going green and how this will ultimately affect our environment.

Ryan Hudson, 16, is a junior at Byng High School. He lives with his father who is on disability.

This summer Ryan went to Big Five Community Services located in Ada to inquire about their summer work experience program. He met with Francine Slater, WIA Case Manager for Pontotoc County.

He expressed interest of working at Byng schools in the IT Department. Hudson interviewed with Mark Abbott and Kyle Jones at Byng School who are over the Computer Technology Department and got the position.

“I was extremely excited to work for them," Hudson said. "I started working full time on June 15 and was fortunate to be able to extend my hours, working part-time, once summer was over.

“I also attended a two-day work experience training at Pontotoc Technology Center that I really enjoyed. I have learned so much about computers from analyzing software to building and repairing them. My dream after graduation is to attend ECU and complete a degree in Networking Communication as a Computer Technician.

"Without Big Five Community Services helping me this summer to work and earn money it would not have been possible for me to save for a car and broaden my knowledge in computers. I feel that I am getting closer to fulfilling my dreams. I just want to thank Big Five for everything they have done for me. I am looking forward to participating next summer in the work experience program.”

For more about these programs, contact Lorrie Wright, WIA Project’s Director at (580) 924-5331.

Text Only