Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 2-11-22

Feature
Groups Partner To Offer Free Workshops To Help Middle School Students With Future Jobs
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
According to the Center on Children and Families, one of the key factors in closing the achievement gap be- tween white and Black mid- dle school children is improving employment rates and opportunities.
The University Area CDC (Community Development Corporation)’s INVEST Workforce program and Think Big for Kids are hop- ing to aid the effort to level the playing field.
The groups have partnered to offer free workshops to help middle schoolers dis- cover their potential.
Monthly skill building workshops will focus on soft skills for workforce readiness and will take place in the University Area Computer Lab
(Classroom 109) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: Feb. 16, March 16, April 13, and May 18.
“Our INVEST Workforce
program is typically geared towards University Area adults, so partnering with Think Big for Kids allows us a unique opportunity to bring impactful, career- based programming to a younger demographic,” says Sarah Combs, University Area CDC executive director and CEO.
“In these workshops, youth participants will have the ability to discover their untapped potential through career exploration, mentor- ship and skills development, all of which will assist them in achieving post-graduation goals for employment.”
Registration is required by contacting Sara
Roman at sroman@ua- cdc.org or 813.558.5212 x 403. A new bicycle will be given away to one of the registrants. Also, re- freshments will be served at each work- shop.
Think Big for Kids:
Think Big for Kids helps underprivileged youth dis- cover their untapped poten- tial by creating opportunities for career exploration, men- torship, and job readiness and placement. The program assists students from 6th through 12th grade in achiev- ing post-graduation goals for employment. More informa- tion is available at thinkbig- forkids.org.
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