Enjoy the April 2013 edition of the Cleveland Job Corps Center newsletter

Happy Earth Day from HYS 

Happy Earth Day to everyone from the HYS staff. What are you doing for Earth Day today? HYS soon will be reporting on what each of our Job Corps center and partners are doing to mark Earth Day 2013.

Muhlenberg Job Corps hosts 33rd annual Easter Egg Hunt

Muhlenberg Job Corps Center hosted its 33^rd annual Easter Egg Hunt for area children and their families on Easter weekend.  Approximately 250 local residents and staff members attended the fun-filled day of egg hunting, playing on inflatables, and fellowship.The Recreation Department and Military Club helped plan the day and directed parking. In addition to the egg hunt, children received Easter baskets and other prizes.

Staff members  Kim Jones, center life director; Barbara Kirk, arts and crafts instructor; and Cody Perry, recreation supervisor, and the Safety and Security Department worked hard to host this fun-filled annual tradition.

 MJCC students Joshua Minogue, Jasmine Hayes, Arts & Crafts Instructor

 Barbara Kirk and Sandra Rojas enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny.

VLAK now partnering with Carl D. Perkins Job Corps

Perkins student Nichelle Fields at the VLAK office.

An article about a new working relationship between the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center and the Volunteer Lawyers for Appalachian Kentucky was featured in the organization’s spring 2013 newsletter.

The article highlighted the new relationship between the two non-profit organizations. VLAK now is a work-based learning site for the Office Administration program at Perkins. VLAK’s first intern was Nichelle Fields, who put her clerical skills to use in the day-to-day operations of the VLAK office. Fields said her internship with VLAK was helpful in teaching her discipline, socialization and communication skills, and has given her the opportunity to work with people who are older than herself. Her goals include pursuing her interests in fashion, writing and singing.

Carl D Perkins Job Corps students partner with Disney character Wreck-It Ralph to teach bike safety

Carl D. Perkins Advanced Security Instructor Carl D. Wilson doesn’t just teach his students about security. He also teaches them to be innovative, volunteer and give back to the community, and this is exactly what the class has done. After completing a training course in mountain bikes, the class was given the task of designing a bicycle safety program for students ages 3-8. The class tackled this new project with enthusiasm and pride, and it showed when they presented the new program for the students at Allen Elementary on April 11.

Perkins security students came up with the theme from the Disney movie “Wreck-it-Ralph.”  The story line of Ralph always wrecking things and not being safe was perfect for the program because students wanted to make the program entertaining and yet educational for their young audience. 

As students Jeannine Wilson and Rashad Thompson opened the program by discussing and demonstrating how to wear helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads correctly, one of the young students quickly reminded Jeannine that she “didn’t buckle your helmet.” The program came to life when fellow movie character Vanellope von Schweetz and Wreck it Ralph made their appearance. While Wreck It wanted to ride with no safety gear, and no shoes on, Vanellope, Jeanine and Rashad corrected his “wreck it” and unsafe ways.

Teachers from the classes thanked the Perkins students for their wonderful new safety program and for bringing it to area schools.

The young students got to ask questions, and get their picture made with Wreck it Ralph and the other characters following the program.

The class visiting every school in Floyd County over the next two weeks to promote bicycle safety awareness among students and parents just in time for the upcoming summer vacation.  

Charleston Job Corps holds Suicide Prevention Training for student leaders

The Charleston Job Corps Center held an Adolescent Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training workshop for leadership students on April 8. Mark Mason, ASPEN trainer, conducted the workshop, which teaches students how to identify the warning signs of someone at risk for suicide.

Every 60 seconds a suicide attempt is made in America. One-hundred Americans commit suicide and 11 youth commit suicide each day.  In West Virginia, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth. 

The Charleston Job Corps Center held this training for student leaders to give them information and training in dealing with peers who may be depressed as well as to help them recognize the warning signs of suicide. Mason stated, “If someone is going through something don’t laugh… don’t ignore. Talk to them and tell a trusted adult.” The training focused on three aspects of an easily-remembered acronym – ACT: A-Acknowledge, C-Care, and T-Tell. Students received pocket cards that listed the warning signs for a person at risk for suicide and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Pictured left to right, are student leaders Bobby Harrell, Shawn Murphy, Alazar Teferi, Adrianna Anderson, ASPEN Trainer Mark Mason, Shanae Brown, Tyrael Mosley, Detario Melton and Michael Hopkins.

Charleston JCC SGA officers volunteer at FAIR SHAKE Ice Cream Social

The Charleston Job Corps Center’s Student Government Association and Tia Welch, business & community liaison and member of the Fair Shake Network, volunteered at the State Capitol for the Fair Shake Network annual Ice Cream Social on April 10 and the State Capitol. SGA volunteers were Shawn Murphy, SGA president; Detario Melton, vice president; Tyrael Mosley, public relations; and Shanae Brown, secretary. They were accompanied by Sandy Atkins, social development director.

The FAIR SHAKE NETWORK is an association of West Virginians dedicated to the belief that diversity makes our communities stronger and that people with disabilities have the right to live, work and play in their own homes and communities. The Fair Shake Network provides training and systems advocacy on issues affecting people with disabilities through statewide, grassroots, cross-disability activities. Every year the network serves ice cream during the legislative session with the help of several volunteers.

Charleston Job Corps students, left to right, Tyrael Mosley, Shanae Brown, Shawn Murphy and Detario Melton with FSN member David Stewart (center).

Muhlenberg JCC blood drive yields 56 pints

Muhlenberg Job Corps Center held a Blood Drive on campus April 3 in conjunction with the American Red Cross. Fifty-six pints of blood were donated by our students and staff.  Muhlenberg JCC donates more than 200 pints of blood each year during four blood drives.  The Wellness Advocates publicize and coordinate the blood drives.

 

Muhlenberg JCC student Shawn Moore is prepped by a Red Cross nurse to donate blood.

Seniors help Muhlenberg JCC students prepare taxes

The Retired Senior Volunteers of Muhlenberg County came to the Muhlenberg Job Corps campus April 5 to fill out tax return forms for 20 students. All the students helped had jobs prior to coming to the Job Corps program. More than $7,000 worth of refunds will be coming to these students due to this service provided by these volunteers. This is the seventh straight year the group has helped Muhlenberg Job Corps students with their tax returns.

Charleston Job Corps Center Director honored for Civil Rights advocacy work 

Curtis Price, center director of the Charleston Job Corps Center, was honored at The Governor’s 10^th Annual Civil Rights Day, Feb. 22, 2013 at the WV Division of Culture and History. Price was among 24 honorees recognized at the event for “Advancing Civil Rights through Advocacy.” 

Price has spent more than 20 years working with the Job Corps program and previously worked with then-Gov. Jay Rockefeller’s office as the Equal Employment Opportunity director. He is an accomplished musician and athlete. He played on the 1968 basketball team at Charleston High School, coached by Lou Romano, which finished the season undefeated and won the state championship.  In spite of a knee injury his senior year of high school, he excelled in basketball at West Virginia University and earned a bachelor of science degree in Secondary Education and Social Studies. 

The Charleston Job Corps Center was a sponsor of the annual Civil Rights Day event. Judge Phyllis Carter, acting director of the WV Human Rights Commission, noted the commission’s long-standing relationship with Charleston Job Corps. Carter currently serves on the center’s Community Relations Council.

Charleston JCC Leisure Time Coordinator James Carter performed musical selections for the event.  Student volunteers Shawn Murphy, Shanae Brown, Jasmine Childs, Javonna Alston, William Lerch and Jazmine Brown helped with the event.

Charleston JCC students attending the event were Shantell Rice, Kalynn Charity, Jakese Hardeman, April M. Trask, Deaza Togba and Arunya Rimnongrua, accompanied by BCL Tia Welch and Jennifer Lester, Medical Office Support instructor.

Two Perkins students get outstanding evaluations for work-based learning internships

WBL students Joseph Gaines and Ryan McKinnon.

Two Carl D Perkins Job Corps students recently received outstanding work-based learning evaluations for their internship at Stumbo Park in Allen, Ky. The students, Joseph Gaines and Ryan McKinnon are doing work-based learning as part of their training in the carpentry career technical training program. Carpentry Instructor Brandon Conley recommended both these students for WBL because of their strong work ethic and the skills they mastered in class.

The young men began working at Stumbo Park in Allen KY, on March 1. They worked each day from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at various projects at the park, learning valuable on-the-job training. Each received his evaluation on March 21 from their supervisor, Rodney Ousley. Ousley wrote the following comments: 

“Joseph is one of the best that has worked at the park. Very pleased with his performance and positive attitude.”  

“Ryan is another great student employee. Very satisfied with his work ethic and attitude. One of the best student employees we have had at the park as well.”

Work Base Learning is vital to student training because it allows students to gain work place experiences such as putting learned trade skills to use, team work, scheduling, time management, etc. While all of these important job skills are taught as part of Career Success Standards (CSS), providing the opportunity for students to apply these skills in a workplace setting enhances their overall job training.

The Perkins Job Corps Center has specific criteria for Work-Based Learning. Students must be at least 40 percent complete in their trade, and be recommended by their instructor. The WBL internships last six weeks, and can be longer at the employer’s request.

The Carl D Perkins Job Corps Center currently has 35 students participating in the Work-based Learning Program in the Tri-County area.

Congressman Ed Whitfield visits Muhlenberg Job Corps Center

Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-District 1) and his district director, Michael Pape, visited the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center on Monday, March 25, met with students and staff, and had an opportunity to view some training for the center’s residential advisor staff. The cost-effective training, held via webinar and teleconference, allows the center to provide effective training without incurring the cost of travel expenses or changing staff schedules. The new RA training program is a pilot program being tested at Muhlenberg JCC.

Pictured with Congressman Whitfield, second from left, are Center Director Kenny Brown; HYS Director of Operations Nolyn Fueller; and Business & Community Liaison Gary Jones.

Enjoy the March 2013 edition of The Cougar Courier, the quarterly newsletter of the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center.

Enjoy the March 2013 edition of the News & Views, the quarterly newsletter of the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center.

Enjoy the latest edition of the Panther Press, the quarterly newsletter of the Charleston Job Corps Center.