Looking Forward
CITY EXPANDS INVESTMENT IN THE SUCCESS OF YOUTH by Arnold Hendrix Renederings courtesy of Danville Public Schools
Every career starts with a first job. Last summer, 52 youths took part in a pilot work-based learning program that provided opportunities to gain work experiences, add skills, and explore potential career interests. This summer, the program will be expanded by nearly six-fold. “Every member of the City Council at some point has talked about providing a meaningful work experience for our young people,” Mayor Alonzo Jones said during a February 15 meeting of the City Council. “This year’s summer program will build on the success of last year.” The City Council voted that evening to contribute nearly $300,000 to expand the program, which is for in-school and out-of-school youth and young adults from ages 14 to 24.
PHOTO BY LEE VOGLER
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CO ME V I SI T O U R T O WN. COM • DANV I LLE, V I R GI NI A
Of the 302 youths slated to take part in this summer’s program, 105 will receive a paid internship up to 280 hours. The remaining participants will attend various career awareness and exposure activities, which include a mock interview day and work readiness boot camps. Called “Danville ExperienceWorks,” the program is a collaborative effort by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville Public Schools, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, Project Imagine, the city’s Human Resources Department, and the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board (Virginia Career Works). “Each member of the collaborative team brings an important skill set, passion, and bank of resources to the youth career experience,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Director of Advanced Learning at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
