the Saint Joseph Youth Alliance was assigned a YouthBuild Grant of the United States Department of Labor, to help students obtain their high school equivalencies and launch a career.
The Youth Alliance program has two tracks. In one, students earn a pre-apprenticeship construction degree and build a house for a low-income family. In the other, they are training to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Robin Hammond, executive director of the Alliance, said case managers are there to help participants if they decide on further post-secondary opportunities.
“If there is additional professional training or a potential nursing school that one of our participants is interested in, we help them pursue that path,” Hammond explained.
Overall, the Department of Labor awarded nearly $90.4 million, including $1.35 million to the St. Joseph Youth Alliance. The YouthBuild grants are part of a Biden administration goal to create fair and sustainable jobs in high-demand industries, with a focus on energy efficiency and green building techniques.
YouthBuild is for low-income people ages 16 to 24, but since you have to be 17 to drop out of high school in Missouri, the Youth Alliance program is geared toward those 17 and older. Hammond pointed out that failing to do well in traditional high school says nothing about a student’s intelligence or ability to contribute to society.
“There are a lot of different factors that come into play why someone may not be successful in traditional school,” Hammond argued. “But we know that a young person who hasn’t had a high school education is more than likely to live a life of poverty. And we can help that young person get out of that situation.”
Hammond added that they are also working to give attendees opportunities for community service, job preparation and interview training, as well as training in budgeting and money management; all are skills that young people preparing for adulthood will need. The Youth Alliance is one of 20 community partnerships across the state affiliated with the Missouri Family and Community Trust.
get more stories like this via email
Funding for the infrastructure measure passed by Congress last year could benefit a struggling rural community in Oregon. State lawmakers requested part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act move towards the modernization of the port of Coos Bay.
The region has experienced a decline in timber harvesting. Proponents argued that a prosperous port could bring back jobs, which could also benefit the local school system.
Teri Jones, a school librarian in Coos Bay, said children growing up in Coos Bay usually have to move after graduation, but an improved port could change that.
“Whether they go to school or some other trade, they’ll probably have to start somewhere else, because there are no jobs here,” Jones pointed out. “It’s a really exciting opportunity.”
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to make funds available for the Port of Coos Bay. Earlier this month, the administration developed a plan to reduce red tape and expedite federal permits and project environmental reviews.
Valerie Eiselien, special education assistant at Coos Bay, said the region needs to be careful in how it handles the harbor upgrade, so as not to disrupt the region’s sensitive and unique estuary. The facility is designed to be the first ship-to-rail port facility on the West Coast to reduce emissions from trucking.
Eiselien thinks it would be worth it if the economy ultimately benefits local families and their children.
“Funding should always be based on them. They’re our next generation, you know, who’s going to run our companies and businesses,” Eiselien argued. “Let’s educate them and show them this is their future.”
Jones thinks the kids of Coos Bay would benefit from a productive harbor for one simple reason.
“When we talk about academic achievement, we tend to look at test scores and attendance,” Jones noted. “I have always maintained, personally, that whatever programs and programs you implement, if you raise the socio-economic threshold of a community, you will increase test scores.”
Proponents of the port also said it would help solve supply chain issues on the West Coast. The upgrade could make the facility one of the busiest in the country.
get more stories like this via email
New York students in precarious housing continue to have alarming school attendance rates, accentuated by the pandemic. Youth advocates say city officials should direct federal relief funds to better support these students.
Last October, students living in shelters had an overall attendance rate of about 79%, or nearly 11 percentage points less than students with permanent accommodation.
Jennifer Pringle, project director at Advocates for Children of New York, said it disrupts the life of education for young people.
“If you want to break the cycle of homelessness, we need to make sure our currently homeless youth get an education,” Pringle argued. “Because students who don’t have a high school diploma are four and a half times more likely to experience homelessness as adults.”
The October numbers reflect a return to full-time in-person instruction for New York City students. According to previous data, shelter students had a 77% attendance rate, the lowest of any student group, in the first six months of 2021, when schools were mostly remote.
The New York City Department of Education is receiving $24 million in US bailout funds specifically for homeless youth. Pringle said more than 30 organizations and the city council want to use the money to hire a total of 150 community coordinators in shelters.
“When a family is placed in a shelter, that person can immediately work with the family to determine, ‘Hey, do you need a transfer to a shelter closer to your child’s school?’ “explained Pringle. “Parents are put in the position of ‘do I take care of my child’s education, or do I take care of finding permanent housing?’ “
The Department of Education has already pledged to hire 50 coordinators to help families navigate the school system and overcome barriers to attendance, but Pringle said 50 would not be enough to serve the 28,000 students who spend time in the city’s 200 shelters each year.
get more stories like this via email
One of North Carolina’s oldest historically black colleges and universities is finding new ways to help students stay enrolled and graduate.
Recent research shows Nationally, nearly 45% of black and Latino students have canceled their degree plans due to pandemic-related income changes, compared to 38% of white students.
Fayetteville State University assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs Rollinda Thomas said FSU has set up a scholarship with a local institution, Fayetteville Technical Community College, which offers eligible students two years free lessons.
Thomas explained that the initiative aims to help transfer students stay on track toward a four-year degree while reducing debt.
“The key for us was to be intentional about diversity and attract students who can be considered non-traditional learners,” Thomas said.
She said the university has also set up scholarships and emergency funding for students in need and opened an on-campus food pantry to help address food insecurity.
Thomas adds that FSU has joined the North Carolina Promise Undergraduate Tuition Plan, allowing in-state and out-of-state students to be eligible for subsidized tuition.
“It’s helpful for our population because just over 50% of our undergraduates are eligible for Pell,” Thomas said, “as well as about 30% of our adult learners.”
She added that higher education institutions are beginning to experiment with new ways to provide resources to students of color, who are more likely to face economic burdens.
“We try to create a sense of ownership and use data to identify student needs and provide the support needed to help them persevere,” Thomas said.
Fayetteville State University has received over $40 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to White House data.
Support for this report was provided by Lumina Foundation.
get more stories like this via email