The Pike\u2019s Peak Work Force Center, the Southern Colorado Business Partnership, and members of the Southern Colorado Higher Education Consortium are working to enable local youth to learn professional skills they need to succeed.<\/p>\n
The Engaging Youth Program supports youth, ages 17 to 24, by allowing them to spend 16 hours working as interns. At UCCS, eight people participated in the program, working in Information Technology, Public Safety, the Gallery of Contemporary Art, Intercollegiate Athletics, Theatreworks and University Advancement.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung adults are facing an especially difficult time in this competitive job market,\u201d said Michelle Graham, business and community initiatives director, Pikes Peak Workforce. \u201cMany of the entry-level jobs that have traditionally been held by young people are being taken by older adults who have been negatively impacted by the economy. As a result, many young adults are lacking the early job experience they need to learn the strong work habits and soft skills essential to attaining future career success.\u201d<\/p>\n
For UCCS, the Engaging Youth Program and the university represent a great partnership to develop innovative approaches to developing the education, skills, and experiences of the area youth for academic and employment opportunities, according to Robert Wonnett, senior assistant, Office of the Chancellor, and the program\u2019s campus coordinator.<\/p>\n
The program provides skill building seminars, internships, and networking opportunities. The program is designed to support 700 youth in the southern Colorado region over the next two years. Participants must complete a soft skills, day-long boot camp, where they review researching careers, resume writing, professionalism, higher education opportunities, and other information. They are then placed in a 16-hour internship, spanning three weeks with participating businesses and institutions.<\/p>\n
Charles Sweet, executive director, Strategic Planning and Initiatives, played a part in involving southern Colorado colleges and universities in \u00a0the program, He stressed the importance of preparing the younger workforce and providing them with access to higher education resources, especially at UCCS.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important we recognize the need for youth to have an opportunity to develop employment qualifications in innovating ways so the youth can build their employment experiences and competencies required for successful and sustainable careers,\u201d Wonnett said. \u201cThese UCCS internship sites have really been supportive of [this] need.\u201d<\/p>\n
A wrap-up session for the first group of participants is scheduled for Nov. 5 at UCCS. The plan is to expand the program to other areas including Pueblo, Trinidad, Lamar and La Junta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe long-term goals are for teens\/young adults who have dropped out of school to return to school or complete their GED, to increase the number of young adults who choose to pursue post-secondary education, and for the unemployment rate amongst teens and young adults in southern Colorado to decrease,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n
For more information on the Engaging Youth Program, visit http:\/\/www.ppwfc.org\/page.php?s=241<\/a><\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: This article was prepared by Tessa vonHilsheimer who served as an intern for University Advancement as part of the Engaging Youth Program.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"