Four young people are joining the Emerging Workforce Development Council as Youth Perspective members. These young people are currently enrolled in programs offered by one of our contracted youth service providers, or they are graduates of the programs. Each has agreed to attend at least one EWDC meeting a year, and the Youth Perspective team will meet twice a year separately with Kathleen Williams, Youth Coordinator for the SWORWIB. "The members of our Youth Perspective Team will share their insights about the programs they are enrolled in," said Williams. "What works well? What could we be be doing better? What are we missing? We expect to learn some valuable things from these young people."

Cortez Adams and Ashley Morrow

Introducing:

Cortez Adams, 18, a senior at Western Hills University High School, enrolled in CYC/Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG). Adams joined JCG this year. "It's a good program," he said," and JCG helped connect me to jobs." Adams is currently working as a cashier and stocker at United Dairy Farmers, and also found a job as a security guard with Whelan Security. One of the most valuable components of the JCG program, he said, is its emphasis on volunteerism. The JCG team at Western Hills has done volunteer work for blood drives, breast cancer awareness, Toys for Tots, and Superstorm Sandy. "It's good to give a helping hand," Adams said. Adams is planning to attend Texas College in Tyler, Texas, on a football scholarship, where he will major in education and minor in criminal justice. At JCG's recent citywide competition, Adams came in third in the interviewing category.

Ashley Morrow, 18, is also a senior at Western Hills and also in the JCG program. Morrow said that JCG's promise to connect its students to jobs sold her on the program. She is currently working two jobs while completing her senior year: occasional work with Whelan Security and 20 hours a week at the DHL hub in Erlanger, where she works the third shift several nights a week. "I enjoyed the volunteer work we did through JCG," Morrow said. "The workshops that JCG offered helped prepare me for a job, especially to be a team player." Morrow plans to attend UC-Blue Ash, where she will major in liberal arts. She recently placed third in public speaking at JCG's citywide competition.

Shaquille Brown, 20, is enrolled in Easter Seals TriState and is graduating this week from P.A.C.E. High School. Brown, who lives with an aunt who is the legal guardian for several of Brown's cousins, enrolled in Easter Seals TriState in September 2012 after meeting with case manager Sharon Brooks. His attendance at P.A.C.E had been somewhat erratic, but he got back on track. "Easter Seals kept me focused on the hard work behind what I needed to do to graduate," he said. Brown is scheduled to take Work Keys assessments, and then to enroll in either the Manufacturing Skill Standards program or Construction Collaborative at Easter Seals. His goal to to get and keep a good job and help his aunt. "Sharon has taught me how to conduct myself, act professionally - something I can teach my brothers," he said.

Tyrone Glenn, 24, enrolled in Literacy Center West in 2010. He had his GED but could not figure out a way to get on a better career path. "I was tired of going from job to job," he said. When he entered the front door of LCW, he knew it could be a different experience. "They cared," he said. "I wasn't just there to sign forms." Glenn worked with Thanapat Vichticot, LCW's job developer, who urged Glenn to continue his education. Today Glenn is at Cincinnati State, studying toward an Associate's degree in power systems engineering, while also working six days a week at Xerox in Erlanger, Ky.