Category: News

Gaston YouthWorks is now NextGen Youth Program!

Posted on by Chelsea Hawley

Gaston Workforce Development Board is excited to announce the new rebranding of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program, formerly YouthWorks. The NextGen Youth program is a year-round program for youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 who face barriers to employment. The NextGen Youth program provides services to help youth and young adults attain educational credentials, enhance their employability, gain college and work readiness skills, find permanent work, and much more!

WITHIN THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS CAN RECEIVE:

  • Tutoring, study-skills training and dropout-prevention strategies
  • Alternative secondary school offerings
  • Work experiences including internships and job-shadowing
  • Occupational skills training
  • Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster
  • Leadership development opportunities
  • Supportive services such as transportation
  • Adult mentoring for at least 12 months
  • Follow-up services such as leadership- and career-development activities
  • Financial literacy education
  • Entrepreneurial skills training
  • Labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area such as career-awareness, career-counseling and career-exploration services
  • Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to post-secondary education and training
  • Comprehensive guidance and counseling

To Learn more please contact a NextGen Youth Staff member at (704)-923-8410 today!

Your Future Starts Here

WSAT brings “EdgeFactor” to Gaston County Students and Parents for Advance Manufacturing Career Awareness March 23, 2017!

Posted on by susan

Area high school students and their parents received an introduction to advanced manufacturing career opportunities on Thursday, March 23, 2017. “Edge Factor” and local advanced manufacturers hosted the inaugural “Ignite Your Future: Introducing Students to Profitable Careers” event at Gaston College’s campus in Dallas on Thursday. The morning session was hosted for students and the evening session for students, parents, teachers and the community. Free pizza was served to registrants during check-in and a prize raffle closed the event.

The Workforce Solutions Action Team (WSAT) consist of Gaston County Schools, Gaston College, Gaston Regional Chamber, Gaston County Economic Development Commission, Gaston Workforce Development Board, Career Climb, NCWorks Career Center and a host of local businesses in Gaston County.

Filmmaker, public speaker and entrepreneur Jeremy Bout from “Edge Factor” presented a message that merges Hollywood visuals with cinematic storytelling. His company uses video and interactive resources to highlight innovation, teach career pathways in manufacturing, and make science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics relevant in today’s world. His presentation intends to inspire and motivate students and their families to “view manufacturing and career and technical education in a new light and help empower students to pursue these amazing pathways.”

“Together with Gaston County Schools, “Edge Factor” with the support from local advanced manufacturers, we are lighting a fire across this region and throughout the state of North Carolina, to inspire the next generation of makers to dream, to innovate, and to create,” said Bout. “This is your opportunity to discover extraordinary careers and unlock the incredible opportunities available in your community.”

Students will had the opportunity to learn about advanced manufacturing career opportunities and a chance to meet with representatives from local industries.

To raise awareness and encourage registration for the “Ignite Your Future” event, all 10 Gaston County High Schools began participating in a “Fight 4 Donuts” competition. Students, parents, families, and friends voted for doughnuts for their school! The school with the most votes won doughnuts for each student at the school.

Gaston County has 9,800 high school students, and over 34,000 votes were casted for doughnuts.

Congratulations’ goes to Hunter Huss High School for casting over 12,000 votes! The KK Cruiser delivered doughnuts to the Huskies on Friday morning!

NC Youth Summit–Making an Income and an Impact: Position Yourself for Success

Posted on by susan

The 11th NC Youth Summit. The NC Youth Summit Committee was held April 7-8, 2017. The NC Youth Summit is a conglomeration of North Carolina’s 23 Workforce Development Boards and is committed to the success of young adults. The NC Youth Summit provides young adults the opportunity to come together as “One Voice.”

Young Adults collaborate, learn from another, and exchange ideas on issues relating to workforce development in North Carolina. This year’s NC Youth Summit host was Dream Builder’s Communication, Inc. (DBC). With the theme of “Making an Income and an Impact: Position Yourself for Success,” it is the aim of Dream Builders Communication to provide an intellectually stimulating environment for young adults to network, learn, and grow together. This year’s theme broadly covered the power of measurable goals, self-worth, and communication. Young Adults learned strategies for understanding balance, commitment, responsibility, and maintaining success. Open-dialogue sessions and networking socials allowed participants to share ideas. This year’s conference provided the perfect fun-filled environment for young adults to establish frameworks to overcome the everyday challenges of life for long-term success.

 

Monthly Workshops presented by Gaston College YouthWorks

Posted on by susan

Encouraging Success in Youth and Young Adults

Monthly Workshops Designed for Participants Cover Many Topics:

  • Financial Literacy
  • Community Service
  • Coping with Stress
  • Interview Preparation
  • Leadership Development
  • Goal Setting
  • Communicating with Law Enforcement
  • Employment Retention
  • Self Defense
  • First Aid
  • Soft Skills:
    • Social Skills
    • Communication
    • Teamwork
    • Critical Thinking
    • Attitude
    • Planning and Organization
    • Media Etiquette

See anything you would like to learn more about?
Are you between the ages of 16 – 24?
Call Gaston College YouthWorks Today! 704-923-8410

Gaston College YouthWorks Program

Posted on by susan

Gaston College WIOA YouthWorks program is federally funded and designed to help young adults achieve their educational and employment goals. The program provides support and guidance to assist both in-school and out-of-school youth in obtaining their high school diplomas and to help those who have dropped out of school get their GED or Adult High School diploma. Youth are also provided assistance with acquiring the necessary skills, training and knowledge to obtain a job and advance in employment.

YouthWorks offers a variety of supportive services to help youth achieve both academic and career related goals which include: tutoring, occupational training, employability skills, work experience, career exploration, on-the-job training, post-secondary education, leadership development, employment and more. YouthWorks’ ultimate goal is to educate and prepare young adults for self-sufficiency in the worlds of work and life. Download Gaston College YouthWorks Recruitment Flyer.

Program Eligibility

  • Do you live in Gaston County?
  • Are you between the ages of 16 and 24?
  • Do you attend a Gaston County Public High School and need help or support in attaining your high school diploma?
  • Have you dropped out of school and need help obtaining your GED, or Adult High School Diploma?
  • Do you need help finding a job?
  • Do you need funding for occupational training?

If so, YOU may be eligible for the YouthWorks Program.

Free Services Include

  • Leadership Development
  • Work Readiness Skills
  • Job Referral/Placement
  • Career Coaching
  • On-the-Job Training (OJT)
  • Tutoring/Academic Support
  • Work Experiences
  • Community Referrals
  • Transportation
  • Service Opportunities

For more information contact Gaston College YouthWorks at 704-923-8410.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program • An equal opportunity employer/program