2010 VISIONS Youth Works program staff, supporters and student participants. (Photo by Tom Martin)
VISIONS Youth Works Summer Employment program concluded for this year with a ceremony at Northumberland High School on Tuesday, September 14th. This employment program is financed primarily by the Jesse Ball duPont Fund and is made possible with the cooperation, funding and support of VISIONS, Lancaster Community Library, Bay Aging Community Action Partnership, Rappahannock Community College, Lancaster and Northumberland High Schools, Macedonia Baptist Church and local employers.
Forty students were involved in the Youth Works program, twenty from Northumberland and twenty from Lancaster County. Each student was matched with an employer, with the grant providing funding for the actual wages earned. Rusty Bragg, program coordinator of the Workforce and Community Developement department at Rappahannock Community College, acted as program director. Project coordinator Bonnie Davis and tutors Alex Stickler and Jovity Kelly worked with all the students to assess and develop job readiness. Bonnie Davis reported that 37 of the 40 students completed the summer employment program.
At the ceremony, those students who completed the program were honored and presented with Career Readiness Certificates. Thanks to a matching gift from Bay Aging CAP, students also received gas cards. Employers and family came out to enjoy these students' wonderful accomplishments.
Rusty Bragg notes that Youth Works develops the workforce from our community. "We have some talented and responsible young people in our area who would love the opportunity to contribute to their home community. This program gives them the chance to do just that."
DuPont has funded VISIONS Youth Works for a three year period, so this program will continue for the next two summers. Students will continue to have the opportunity to learn important skills and behaviors that will allow them to experience success in the working world.
