Demetrius Brownlee at age 19 has secured a position with STAR Construction thanks to the great cement career technical training he received at Whitney Young Job Corps. While at Whitney Young Brownlee obtained various certifications in the industry to help him jump start a prosperous career. On the first week, Brown reported” I love my job and I want to stick with it.” He also reported that his strong work ethic did not go unnoticed by his co-workers. Brownlee describes himself as a “not a quitter on self” as someone who has perseverance and will do what it takes to succeed. In addition to the great work ethics and technical skills Brownlee developed while at Whitney Young, Brownlee was also the shop foreman and a leader on campus.

Kitumaini Nturubika, a refugee from Congo, found himself at Muhlenberg Job Corps in May of 2012. Kitumaini used his time wisely and quickly earned his high school diploma, a certification in Medical Office Support and attained his Pharmacy Technician certificate.

After completing his trade, Kitumaini stayed on Muhlenberg campus while going through the college program at Madisonville Community College. While a student, MCC recognized his work ethic and hired him as a part-time computer and math tutor. After completing Muhlenberg Job Corps, he moved to Orlando to live with his brother and to attend a private college.

After a year living in Orlando, pursuing his undergraduate degree while working to support himself, hard times found Kitumaini.  Unfortunately, his situation became worse, and he lost a place to live.  Consequently, he had to drop summer courses, which he was supposed to take that year so he could work overtime hours. He had to sell his car to pay the balance he owed to the university. To prevent himself from becoming homeless and the possible chance of discontinuing his education, he tried a shot and applied at Berea College. It was only one week before the deadline to apply for admission. Fortunately, he got accepted and there his new chapter began.  At Berea College, he worked in the office of The First-Year Initiatives, where he supported first-year students and participated in the Mentorship Program.

I am happy to inform you that on May 5th, 2019,  Kitumaini graduated with a degree in Psychology and plans to go on to graduate school to earn his formal training of Occupational Therapy. Kitumaini’s ultimate goal is to earn an Occupational Therapy degree and a Psy.D in Health Psychology. Kitumaini would like to give thanks to Mr. Jim Price and his wife, Janet Price, for playing a major role in his education journey. Kitumaini has endured several trials throughout his life, but he stayed the course and succeeded. Kitumaini, you are a great example of what our students can accomplish and how job corps can produce success. The end result is JOB CORPS WORKS!

When Brian Hancock, Muhlenberg BCL, invited Adam Lynch, Staff Recruiter for Perdue Farms for a tour neither knew what to expect. Adam Lynch said that he had no idea of how top notch the Muhlenberg campus was until his tour on April 3rd. Adam then returned the request and invited Muhlenberg staff to visit the Perdue Farms facility in Beaver Dam, KY, on April 17th. Kayla Horn, Work Base Coordinator for Muhlenberg Job Corps, stated that the facility was extremely clean and extremely efficient. These two meetings led both parties to know there was some work to be done together for several years. May 7^th Perdue Farms hired four Muhlenberg Job Corps students with three of those students being local Muhlenberg residents. Kayla, Brian and Adam are already working on being able to prepare some of the job corps students in the welding department for possible future position in maintenance for Perdue Farms.

(Perdue Employees & Muhlenberg Job Corps Students: Shakeem Newkirk, June Wilder, Brenden Doll & Joshua Farley)

Diversicare, a nursing home in Greenville, Kentucky, celebrated Nursing Home Week with a little flare. One of the events for the week, is the annual Wheel Chair Parade.  This year health trade students from Muhlenberg Job Corps spent their day participating in the event. Staff and residents worked together in taking a wheelchair and making it into a float for the small parade. The float route started behind Diversicare and made its way to Depot Street then onto Main Street before ending up back at the front of Diversicare. The week long celebration consisted of numerous games and activities for the staff and the residents. There was a scavenger hunt, cook off contest, corn hole tournament, and then on Friday the week long celebration will conclude with a talent contest. Monica Gunterman, Muhlenberg Job Corps Health Cluster Manager, said her staff and students have enjoyed being a part of this special week. Monica also stated that she has received praise from the nursing home staff on MJCC students and expressing they would not have made it this week without the help of MJCC students.

Muhlenberg Job Corps held its graduation on April 25^th with 44 students graduating from the program. This class, like most, didn’t disappoint and had a few worth some honorable mention. DeTriawn Wade, graduate speaker, has returned to Memphis, TN, and plans on furthering his education by attending college to be a Physical Therapist. This class had five students that were accepted to advance training. Jadia Holloway earned the Valedictorian award and Jade Crown Morse earned the Salutatorian award. Numerous awards were given out to this graduating class, including 22 students who received Work Base Learning certificates and 19 of the 22 WBL certificates were over the national average and three were over one thousand hours. Curtis McGehee, Muhlenberg County Judge Executive, was the keynote speaker for the Muhlenberg graduation and Doctor Martin brought closing thoughts to the graduates. Muhlenberg Job Corps would like to thank the 44 graduates for their hard work and efforts to better themselves for the future.

Jenasica Woods completed her Clinical Medical Assistant technical training and now is now employed with Kentucky Blood Center in Louisville, KY as a Phlebotomist. Ms. Woods begins her new role on June 3 and is very excited to start her career in the health industry. Prior to obtaining her career technical training, Woods worked full-time as a sales associate in a department store. Although Woods enjoyed working with the public, she knew she wanted something more and decided to do something about it.
After Woods researched her options she decided that Whitney Young Job Corps would be the best career move and in less than a year she accomplished her goal. By having her high school diploma, Woods focused on obtaining her certifications and the hands on learning from her CMA classes. Fortunately, Woods was able to participate in the Work Based Learning program on campus and now at age 21 she has the credentials and no debt that will help to jumpstart her future in a high demand health industry. In addition to the CPR, Blood Pathogen, HIPPA and Phlebotomy credentials, Woods received her driver’s license and just as important, a reputation of going above and beyond in her work ethics. Woods was a tremendous asset in the Wellness Department and in coordinating and executing the Health Fair earlier in the year.
Looking back from August of 2018 to May 2019 – 9 months is a short about of time to “invest in self” to build a career and the rewards are certainly in Woods’ favor. Woods is appreciative and thanks her CMA Instructor, Mitzi DeBeers, for believing in her success!

On May 15, the U.S. Military partnered with the Whitney Young Job Corps Center to host a successful Military Fair. The representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines were present to discuss career opportunities after completing Whitney Young Job Corps. Over a hundred students had the opportunity to learn more about the experiences of being an officer in the military. This will be an ongoing partnership with the U.S. Military and Whitney Young Job Corps that will conducted bi-annually.

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps alum Dwayne Clarke, 27, from Covington, GA, now works as the food and beverage supervisor for the Westin Birmingham Resort in Birmingham, AL. He remembers how important the work-based learning experience was for him when he was a student at Perkins Job Corps and is now working to make similar WBL opportunities available to other Job Corps students.

Clarke recently met with students in the Hotel Lodging career technical training program at the Gadsden Job Corps Center and the center’s work-based learning coordinator to discuss work-based learning opportunities with Westin. “I wanted to help the students at the Job Corps center because without the Job Corps program, I would not be where I am at today,” Clarke said.

Clarke graduated from Carl D. Perkins Job Corps in 2013, completing his training in Culinary Arts and Office Administration. He continued in the center’s Advanced Training Program, earning an associate’s degree in business administration from Big Sandy Community & Technical College, and being named to the college’s Dean’s List each semester. He then enrolled at the University of Kentucky to complete his bachelor’s degree in business.

He completed two work-based learning internships — one at the University of Pikeville and the other at the food service department at the Charleston Job Corps Center — and recalls that both “were amazing learning experiences.”

Perkins Job Corps graduate Dwayne Clark, center in blue sports coat, with students and staff from Gadsden Job Corps.

The Department of Labor funds special projects for Job Corps every year. These projects fall under the Career Technical Student Training (CTST) heading. This year’s CTST task was not just your run of the mill endeavor, as this project would showcase the amazing skills of both Muhlenberg Hard Trades instructors and Muhlenberg Job Corps students. This year’s project would take place between the administrative and the recreational buildings. Between the two buildings a grassy area with major low spots and drainage issues clearly needed attention. After a year of planning for a project this size, Nick Toomey, Heavy Equipment Cluster Manager, along with Heavy Equipment Trade, and CDL broke ground on March 19th of this year. The major undertaking would start with the HEO (Heavy Equipment Operator) trade removing areas of the old concrete sidewalks. This would allow the ground to be elevated, which in turn would alleviate drain and cosmetic issues. To help extract water away from an area that was holding water on a consistent basis HEO installed 200 feet of drain tile into the ground. Once the drain tile was buried, CDL trade brought approximately 30 dump truck loads of quality dirt onto Center, this was to elevate the lower riding areas. In between dumping loads of dirt, the HEO trade used trade equipment to level piles of dirt and in some cases move the dirt to other designated locations. The HEO trade teamed up with Henry Jarvis and Russell Moore from the maintenance crew for concrete work needed to complete the project. Three different sidewalks, equaling up to 40 yards of concrete, was poured to provide students’ traveling paths between the two buildings. The Hard Trade Foundation instructor, Charles Wiseman, had student volunteers for the latter stages of the project. Chaney and John Austin, from HEO, took lead on this project.  John Austin stated that well over a hundred job corps students were able to earn Work Base Learning hours necessary to complete their trade requirements. John stated that these hands on projects are the projects where students learn the most.  Instructor Chaney said these types of projects are the projects where students learn if they are cut out for this type of work. Muhlenberg Job Corps student, Devon Jones said, “Working on this project made me realize this is what I want to do in life. “  MJCC wants to thank its hard trades for doing an absolutely amazing job on a huge undertaking that will withstand the test of time.

2017 graduate, Isaiah McCall, stopped by Muhlenberg Job Corps to thank his former instructors. Isaiah completed the Heavy Equipment Operation trade and then completed his CDL in just thirteen months. Isaiah said that when he arrived at the Muhlenberg Job Corps he was homeless. He said those thirteen months changed his life and he is glad that he made the decision to come to Job Corps. Isaiah made sure on his visit that the CDL instructors and HEO instructors knew how much he appreciated them working with him and not giving up on him. Isaiah works for Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Isaiah said that he loves driving a truck for Heaven Hill. While on campus, Isaiah spoke with the present CDL class. He told the class to stay the course and it will be worth it in the long run. He also said it was one of the best decisions he’s made. Muhlenberg Job Corps would like to thank you, Isaiah, for your time at job corps and for coming by to talk with our students.

Picture L to R: Instructor Scottie Brooks, Isaiah McCall, Instructor Lewis Woodward

Instructors Chuck Chaney and John Austin jumped at the chance to help Jerry Hancock, Muhlenberg High School Athletic Director, on a project for the baseball team. The high school team and the Muhlenberg Stallions were looking to improve the dirt areas of the infield. Once the red clay infield mix from Tennessee was purchased and hauled to the baseball field it was time for Muhlenberg Job Corps Heavy Equipment Operation trade to take the reins. The first step was to use the motor grader to peel ¾ inch of the top layer of field off and the use the front end loader to stock pile the material to be reused later. The HEO trade then spread two loads of the new red clay dirt. Once spread, the team then tilled, drug and compacted the dirt. The team then put the layer that had been peeled off back on top of the clay to be drug and compacted again. The last step was to water the field and this was just hours before for the Muhlenberg Stallions would have its opening night home games on June 4th.  John Austin, who in 2014 with Muhlenberg Job Corps built an entire baseball field from scratch for the community of Rochester said that these are the projects that he enjoys the most. John also stated that his family have a bond with the sport and that it goes way back before his days of playing for Muhlenberg North High. Muhlenberg Job Corps enjoyed the two day project and looked forward to helping on some other projects in the future. MJCC would also like to thank Tommy Barton from the Park & Rec helping on the project with his equipment and his time.

Charleston Job Corps, City consider work-based learning opportunities
Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin visited Charleston Job Corps May 9 to discuss
the economic impact of the center on the city and a potential work-based learning
partnership with the city to provide students with valuable hands-on job
experience in addition to their career technical training on center.
Goodwin met with Business Community Liaison Nancy Shepherd to discuss Work Based Learning.
possibilities before being led by Student Government Leadership students Gerry
Ames and Tori Goodman on a
tour of the center. During the
tour, Goodwin spoke with
students and staff about the
center’s training programs and
the benefits of the Job Corps
program.
Although Goodwin had visited
the center many years ago,
she wasn’t fully aware of all the
programs the center offers until
her recent visit. Goodwin said
she is eager to find ways to
partner with Charleston Job
Corps and to ensure that the
community is aware of the
valuable career training
programs offered at the center.

Charleston Mayor Amy Goodman
with CJCC students Tori Goodman
and Gerry Ames.

Senior Residential Advisor, Anita Dunnigan,  assists students with the Planting for Peace competition.
Dorms vie for top honors in courtyard flowerbed planting, designs.

Y2Y Ambassadors and SGA sponsored a competition May 18 to encourage students to participate in the beautification project by planting flower beds in the courtyard between the dorms.
Each dorm was assigned a flower bed, and dorm members went to work, collaborating on planting ideas and working hard in hopes of winning top place and a dinner at a restaurant in the Charleston area.

Trevor Periard, Horizons Youth Services corporate finance and administration director and the acting F&A director at Charleston
Job Corps, and other senior management and dorm staff were on hand to help and offer their opinions to the student landscapers.

The winning dorm, announced during the Morning Meeting May 28, was Truth Dorm.

Although only one winner was selected, the entire Charleston Job Corps community wins by being able to enjoy the fruits (and flowers!) of these students’ labor.
Thanks so much for your efforts!

Peter LaFleur, Muhlenberg Job Corps Center Director, spoke to the West Kentucky Workforce Board (WKWB) about Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. The WKWB has a monthly meeting and lunching. These meetings are to discuss past and future business, as well growth and development in the Western Kentucky region. Peter was able to educate the room of around 50 board members about the benefits of our region using Job Corps as a resource to help train young adults to be job ready employees for the work force. The West Kentucky Workforce Board serves the seventeen counties of the Pennyrile/Purchase in providing policy development and coordination for workforce development in support of economic development for the region.

Nicholas Mangione started Muhlenberg Job Corps in March of 2017. Nicholas attained his Certified Nurse Assistant certificate while on campus and then shifted his focus to a college career in nursing. Nicholas began Madisonville Community College in the beginning of 2018. While on Muhlenberg Job Corps campus and attending college classes, Nicholas learned about the “Kentucky Loop” program from a former Muhlenberg Job Corp graduate, who went on to work and go to college through United Parcel Services “Kentucky Loop” program. UPS offers a program in Louisville that allows students to work at UPS in the World Operations department and attend Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC). UPS/LOOP student employees will receive up to $7,800 in housing benefits for two-years. They will receive access to all of the University of Louisville amenities via the ULtra program. UPS/LOOP students receive $10,140 for two years of JCTC tuition along with $1,300 for books and $4,075 in bonuses. Mangione will start the UPS/Loop program in August. He will attend Jefferson Community & Technical College for nursing. Muhlenberg Job Corps is very proud of Nicholas’ accomplishments and can see several more from him in the near future.

BCL Brian Hancock & Nicholas Mangione

When Anya Goss arrived at Springdale Job Corps Center she knew she had no time to waste. The Pharmacy Technician graduate (July 2018) spoke about how Springdale Job Corps Center helped her.

What led you to Job Corps?

During high school, I had an idea of what I wanted to do one day, but it changed a lot and it’s still sort of changing. I wanted to go to college and become a dental hygienist. I went to Portland Community College for one term, but left before my second term because of the cost. Dropping out was very upsetting. I was in a rut, I had nowhere to go, and I had no education. It was very upsetting.

I learned about Job Corps at the dentist! The dental assistant talked about this thing called Job Corps, I had never heard of it. She kept talking and I thought it sounded too good to be true, there had to be a catch! I went home, looked into it, and it was actually real.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t signing up to get scammed, you have to be cautious! I met with an admissions counselor, confirmed it was real, and I was hooked. I wanted to get in as soon as possible! I picked Pharmacy Technician because I thought it’d be the most in demand once I left Springdale. With Pharmacy Tech, I can count pills until I am 70!

How did Pharm Tech prepare you for Vetsource?

Tammi [Morris, instructor] did a good job of pounding us on accuracy and speed, that’s definitely important! Also, learning medication names, that was really cool and helpful. The math in class was challenging, but we don’t really have to do math at Vetsource like you would at a retail setting.

I’ve been employed at Vetsource for a year and I just got a promotion. Now, I’m Lead Pharmacy Technician! Some of the things I do each day: I run our numbers and see what products we are running out of and then I go and pull those products into work orders. My team then breaks the products down into single day doses so we can ship out to customers. That’s pretty much what we do! As the lead, I am running around managing, and helping make sure the warehouse is running smoothly.

What impact did Job Corps have on your life?

A huge impact! Honestly, it changed my life and I am so glad I went. Career and life. I’m engaged, I bought a car, and doing well. We’re thinking about starting a business and it’s all because of Job Corps. Job Corps is amazing!

We’re looking to start a property management business. I also want to become a veterinarian. I’ve started the process of looking and applying to schools. I’ve got a lot of paths to think about right now. Being a vet is always something I thought I could do and I can see it now. Working at Vetsource has nurtured that idea. Job Corps is an amazing program and I really appreciate what you guys do!

Finals were over and all that was left for Dominique Moore to do was walk across the stage at Mt. Hood Community College and accept her Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. She hadn’t thought about graduation day and on the spot she tried to gather her thoughts. “Don’t trip. It’s a big deal. This is the big leagues! I don’t know if I can answer that one?” said Moore. Vagueness aside, earning her diploma was the culmination of two and a half years of hard work, growth, and a second chance she didn’t mess up.

Getting back to college was the goal because her first attempt didn’t go well. She attended right after high school and admits she wasn’t as committed as she should’ve been. Moore liked the idea of college, but wasn’t really into the studying aspect of going to school. “I was just going through the motions. I did two terms and then failed out,” said Moore. She wanted a career in law enforcement and a meeting with a Job Corps Admissions Counselor showed her how she could do get there.

Initially, she wasn’t interested in attending Job Corps. “The longest I’d been away from home was two weeks when I went to stay with a friend,” said Moore. She had family, friends, and horses she didn’t want to leave behind. But the longer she listened to her Admissions Counselor, the better the program sounded. She picked a trade, Protective Services, and a campus, Springdale. She also learned that Springdale had a college program and that sealed it for Moore. She set three goals: become Captain in Protective Services, earn Platinum in the level system, and get into college. “I knew right away I was going to do those things. Once I settled in, I was the goody two-shoes,” said Moore.

On an overcast Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College, Moore sat next to friends from the Criminal Justice program. They are all smiles as they wait for their row to be called. These students shared more than just the same major. “The trippiest thing, I found out we were all first generation graduates. We bonded over that and that was really cool,” said Moore. The significance of what was about to happen clicked. “This WAS a big deal,” said Moore. “My brother brought up that I’m the first in my family to finish. I’m showing my mom I can do things on my own, and I’m the first of the kids to get a degree. Having that hanging over my head helped me get through school.”

It was finally her rows turn to start walking towards the stage. By this point, her nerves have completely taken over. “I feel my heart start pounding and my legs feel like they are going to give out,” said Moore. “I’m wearing heels and thinking ‘I can’t fall right now.’” Her next move was calming, though. Moore looked for her family in the crowd and locked eyes with her mom. “I tell her I’m scared,” said Moore. “She says ‘you’re ok, you’re beautiful, and you’ve got this!’ I carried that with me while I walked on stage.”

The student who admitted that school was never her thing received her diploma and walked back to her seat. She was beaming and she was a graduate. “I have two moms and I always joke about a mom sandwich. When we hugged, I had a mom on each side of me. One telling me she’s so proud and I’m so beautiful and the other mom telling me how proud she is,” said Moore. “That was the best thing ever and I started crying even harder. I knew I shouldn’t have worn make-up!”

Her efforts at Springdale and in college taught her that she could accomplish goals on her own, overcome adversity and advocate for herself. “I am also setting a good example for younger siblings,” said Moore. “I am glad I pushed through it and finished because I didn’t think I’d get to this spot!”

Muhlenberg Job Corps facility has noticed a rise in females taking Heavy Equipment Operation trade over the past couple of years. There tends to be a stigma concerning male and female in the Heavy Equipment industry.  John Austin, HEO instructor, stated females operate just as well as males, and in some cases even better.  Shante Berry shared with BCL, Brian Hancock, the confidence that she has built in being able to operate equipment has carried over into other areas of her life. She now has confidence to do and be anything she wants in a career after Job Corps. The project in the picture shows Shante Berry and Shayla Myers packing the softball field with a roller, after the ground was worked up, leveled, and dragged by the Heavy Equipment Operation trade. Nick Toomey, Heavy Equipment Manager, stated, “From my experience with our students in the past few years, our female students tend to be more focused on their training, driven to be successful, and possess the operating skills required for the field that make them employable.”

(Muhlenberg Job Corps Students Shante Berry & Shayla Myers)