Program designed to help disabled youth get ahead
From left are Limle, Dawson, Peeples, X. Washington, Broadhead, B. Washington and Clay
The Summer Youth Demonstration Project, provided by the Urban Development Center, held its first graduation in Century on June 29 with six students receiving their diplomas and $200.
The Urban Development Center (UDC) is a training and community development tax exempt organization with the trilateral focus of developing workforce, business and organizational capacities within urban communities.
The UDC is currently offering pre-employment transition services to students, ages 14 to 21, with disabilities. Each student participating in the program must have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The services offered for the summer are designed to help prepare students to transition from high school to postsecondary education, training or employment.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said it's a great program and he's proud they came to the Century Business Center, located at 150 East Pond St.
"Absolutely, it's a great program," Hawkins said. "It helps our youth with job skills and just things in life. I hope they will take advantage of this opportunity."
The Summer Youth Program's services include job exploration counseling, post-secondary education counseling, work readiness and self-advocacy training.
Gregory Clay and Dominick Limle are the instructors and facilitators at the Century location. The program will be available in Century every two weeks from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday until July 30, 2018. Each student who successfully completes the program receives a $200 cash stipend.
Members of the first graduating class were Arterius Dawson, Zakharia Peeples, Xaviar Washington, A.J. Broadhead and Brianna Washington.
For more information about the program, contact Dr. Jessica Griffen or John Rigsby at the Urban Development Center in Pensacola at 850-725-1712 or go to [email protected].
