Anyone knows that when you work for Job Corps you must have Strength, Courage, Discipline, Patients, and really care about the population to truly make a difference. Job Corps changes lives, but it’s the staff that impact the lives of many without any recognition all the time.

Students and staff can now feel they know more about what’s going on around the Wind River Job Corps since we launched a new digital and hard copy newsletter, WRTalkAbout. While a limited number of hard copies are available on campus, students and staff received the publication through their email. The new tool will help us spread our good news stories on-campus at about the same time we send them out to the larger community through the media.

The first issue puts the spotlight on BCT student, Jamielynn Mazurek, who represented our region at the January International Home Builders Show in Las Vegas. Jamielynn and 5 other Job Corps students provided demonstrations and answered questions at the HBI Skills Exhibit.

Students coming to Job Corps bring their own baggage, as well as their unique talents and skill sets acquired over the years. This was very fortunate for the team at Wind River Job Corps in Riverton, Wyoming as we struggled to produce a video profile worthy of the student that was being featured, Jamielynn Mazurek.

Jamielynn is a terrific student, leader and mentor who was recently chosen as one of six students to represent all Job Corps students at the International Home Builder’s Show. We really wanted to do her as proudly as she has done us.

Thanks to the efforts of Tim Schroeder and Tucker Hansen, both electrical trade students, we were able to produce a high quality video using a combination of professional talent and equipment.

Tim is the video expert, while Tucker has a theater degree. Both believe their careers will be enhanced, and more secure,  by adding electrical expertise to their repertoire.

The end result is the profile of a terrific student produced by other great students, and with additional support from other tradesmates.

Student video experts Tim Schroeder and Tucker Hansen solicit help of BCT students in the making of a video profile about Jamielynn Mazurek.

Wind River Job Corps will be celebrating Women’s History throughout the month of March. The efforts kicked off today with the first 3 of 15 posters appearing all over campus – in trades, the dorms, rec center, wellness, cafeteria and more.

Students nominated the women they wanted to recognize. Each poster includes two stories – the first is a photo and story about a specific Woman in History, and second is a story about the Women of WRJob Corps, spotlighting the student nominator.

First posters commemorate Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Scottish missionary to Nigeria Mary Slosser, and famed Tejano singer/sonwriter Selena Quintanilla.

Maria Coen, WRJC medical assisting student nominated missionary Mary Slessor, best known for stopping common infantcide in Nigeria.

WRJC welding student Tori Chyne Aragon from Wyoming's Wind River Reservation nominated Selena for recognition.

Some of Collin College’s newest students are from North Texas Job Corps are, first row, Mariah Washington, Desire Juarez, Cornelius Johnson, Tittiana Gotlewski, and Jamie Lyons; standing, Jose Garcia, Ephrata Mengistu, and Sheldon Hartfield

Thirteen students at North Texas Job Corps are fulfilling their dream to go to college this semester by taking advantage of the Job Corps Advanced Career Training Program partnership with Collin College.  These students started at Collin College in January.  Under the ACT program, students can enroll in community college and earn an associate degree or certificate at no cost to themselves.  Students continue to live on the North Texas Job Corps campus, and the center arranges transportation to and from the college.  All 13 students completed one or more career training technical training programs on center before enrolling at Collin College.

Some of the students tapping into the ACT program had already set their sights on college.  For others, college seemed like an impossible dream, and still others hadn’t even considered college until they learned about the ACT program.

The students enrolled at Colin College this spring semester are Cornelius Johnson, Donnell Strange, Mariah Washington, Valdez Welch, Wymore Maxwell, Jacqualla Edwards, Tattiana Gotlewski, Jose Garcia, Ephrata Mengistu, Jamie Lyons, Conor Kelly, Desiree Juarez, and Sheldon Hartfield.

So far the transition to college has been a smooth one for Mengistu, who is working towards an associate degree in nursing.  “it is fun,” Mengistu said.  “I like it.  I like the way we learn.”  Her goal is to eventually become a Registered Nurse.

The center’s ACT program provides one more avenue for young people to pursue an education that will set them up for success in careers and in life.

Job Corps is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country and has been operating for over 50 years.  Job Corps has trained and educated over two million individuals since 1964.  The North Texas Job Corps center  is located in McKinney, TX.  Our job training program helps eligible youth, ages 16 through 24, train for meaningful careers in Construction, Healthcare, Hospitality, Transportation, Homeland Security, and Finance/Business.  Students are also able to complete their high school education and obtain employment.

Wind River Job Corps continues to add to the Women in History effort (see previous post). The project started with posters that tell the story of 2 women – one from history or national acclaim, and one from the student body of Wyoming’s Job Corp.

Two local media sources have since picked up on the project. WyoToday.com, and digital news site with social media duplication is running these dual stories daily throughout the month. Similarly, the Riverton Chamber of Commerce, rich in WBL opportunities, is email blasting to their membership.

On-campus, both the cafeteria and rec center have constructed “women’s walls” where students can find all of the stories in one place. Other areas – trades, wellness, dorms, etc. have scattered them.

The poster stories can also be found on the MikeRoweWorks Facebook page, focused on promoting vocational education nationally.

Students and staff nominated the women that inspire them. Thus far, stories commemorate Shoshone Sacajawea, Michelle Obama, Wyoming suffragist Esther Hobart Morris, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Scottish missionary to Nigeria Mary Slosser, famed Tejano singer/songwriter Selena Quintanilla, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Maya Angelou, Elouise Cobell, Rosa Parks, Jane Austen, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, Harriet Tubman and Marilyn Monroe, with more yet to come. These stories focus on the achievements each woman made in blazing the leadership trail for women of the future.

Nominating students receive a custom coin commemorating Louisa Swain, the first woman to in the nation to vote in a U.S. election (Wyoming passed women’s voting rights in 1869, 50 years before the nation). The coin was developed by the State of Wyoming in celebration of 150 years of women’s legal rights.

In an emergency car crash scenario, initial key players are police officers and first responders, including firefighters and paramedics. These individuals have just minutes to respond when someone’s life hangs in the balance. But key responders following those crucial initial moments also play important roles in clearing the roadways and making them safe for motorists again.

Among those important responders are tow truck operators. Muhlenberg Job Corps Center CDL-B Instructor Chris Brumfield, addressing his CDL-B class about crash scene towing, said, “Rule #1 when arriving at an emergency site is to make sure you and your truck are out of harm’s way. Safety should always be the first priority. You are responsible for your safety and your truck’s safety, so don’t let someone put you in a situation you are uncomfortable with.”

Tow truck companies and operators are responsible to clean up debris from the vehicle they tow from the scene of a crash. Most tow companies have contractual agreements with law enforcement agencies and are on an area tow lists. These companies are inspected and are required to carry certain items with them, including, at a minimum, a shovel, broom and a super-absorbent material that can be spread to absorb harmful and hazardous liquids.

Muhlenberg Job Corps Center believes that better knowledge of a variety of situations leads to a better employee. It is important to train for real-world scenarios because it gives students an idea of what they will likely encounter in their jobs. Scenario training also gives students the opportunity to think critically so when they are faced with a new problem they can come up with their own solution.

By:  Jacob Groves

In honor of African American Heritage month, Training Manager Theodore Dues welcomed the Charleston, WV, Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club to Charleston Job Corps Feb. 25th. The Buffalo Soldiers shared a video presentation about the history of the Buffalo soldiers with staff and students at Charleston Job Corps Center followed by a short question and answer session. The Charleston, WV, Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers is a philanthropic organization that undertakes many volunteer community service projects and financially supports charities and scholarships.
The group also is dedicated to educating others about the racism, sacrifices and hardships the Buffalo soldiers of the 9th and the 10th U.S. Cavalries endured.
Buffalo soldiers were African American soldiers who mainly served on the Western frontier following the American Civil War. In 1866, six all-black cavalry and infantry regiments were created after Congress passed the Army Organization Act. Their main tasks were to help control the Native Americans of the Plains, capture cattle rustlers and thieves and protect settlers, stagecoaches, wagon trains and railroad crews along the Western front.

Pictured are North Texas Job Corps student leaders Dejiah Reed, Denise Cole, Mariah Washington and Melanie Smith.

Four top student leaders at North Texas Job Corps were special guests at the Collin County NAACP Branch Annual Freedom Fund Scholarship Luncheon held  Feb. 8th at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, TX.  Attending the luncheon were Dejiah Reed, President of the Student Government Association Outreach Committee; Denise Cole, SGA vice president; Mariah Washington, SGA president; and Melanie Smith, SGA committee chairman.  The keynote speaker was Christopher Scott, founder of House of Renewed Hope, a non-profit organization committed to investigating the convictions of individuals who maintain their innocence.  Scott was wrongly convicted of capital murder in 1997 and spent 13 years in prison before being exonerated.

“It was an excellent program and it reinforced my belief that we are all the same,” Cole said.  “Mr. Scott was an amazing speaker.  He really touched my heart because he was able to find forgiveness for the persons who wrongfully convicted him of capital murder even though he was innocent.”  The students and Recreation Specialist Irma Monroe networked with other guests at the luncheon and shared information about job training programs at North Texas Job Corps.

The count is up to 16 stories recognizing Women in History, along with another 16 stories about the Women of WRJob Corps (see previous posts since March 3 for full story and portfolio of stories). Besides getting substantial play in the media, these stories have been presented on posters and displayed throughout the campus.

While all of our students are English speaking, many are also Spanish speaking. In an acknowledgement of the valuable contributions of these students, we translated the poster featuring Selena Quinatella into Spanish and have since distributed copies to the dorms, rec center, cafeteria, etc.

As a donor to Wind River Job Corps Jackets for Jobs business attire drive, Senator Enzi’s representative Jennifer Fernadez dropped by the center today. The Senator donated a jacket as well as a full suit. Tucked in the inside pocket of each is a personal letter from the Senator.  

The letter states” The toughest thing to handle in a job interview won’t be the interviewer or the questionnaire. It will be your own self-confident. My hope is that this suit serves you as well as it did me in my career and provides you that little extra spring in your step  to achieve your personal and professional goals.”

We are grateful to Senator Enzi for his constant support in so many different ways.

By:  Jacob Groves

Michelle Swift is well on her way to a promising career in the healthcare industry thanks to the quality job training she received at Muhlenberg Job Corps. Swift has completed the Certified Nurse Assistant program, earning the following credentials: Phlebotomy Technician, Home Health Aide, HIPPA Certification, and Basic Life Support (CPR) Certification.

She also has developed leadership skills, serving as dorm leader, president of Health Advocates, a member of the Youth2Youth organization and currently the secretary of the Student Government Association at Muhlenberg Job Corps. Those leadership skills have mentally prepared her for the next leg on her job training journey.

She currently is attending Madisonville Community College through Muhlenberg Job Corps’ Advanced Career Training partnership with the college. In addition to her general studies classes needed for an associate degree, she also is working to secure two additional certifications: Electrocardiogram Technician and Certified Medical Assistant. Swift enrolled at Muhlenberg Job Corps when she finished high school because she knew she could neither afford nor was mentally ready for college. But she understood that she needed to continue her education past high school if she wanted a successful career in the healthcare field.

Muhlenberg Job Corps offered her what she needed — job training, the opportunity to earn nationally recognized credentials, room and board, a solid support system and the opportunity to attend college all at no cost to herself.

In thinking about her Job Corps experience, Swift says honestly, “It’s hard, and definitely not for everybody. However, Job Corps is what pushed me to that next level to become a better employee, and has pushed me to not settle for anything less than my ultimate goals.”

Sometimes students face challenges, but in some occasions, a department can too. Last year we had some changes in staff and our Health Occupations Trade was in dire need of a new Nursing Director. Instrumental staff are needed to ensure that our students receive what they need to be prepared for their new careers. Fortunately, we were able to get a new LVN instructor, Mr.John Bagon, and a new Nursing Director, Ms. Lauren Jones. Both of them have many credentials and the educational background with work experience to provide our students with what they need.

Something new our LVN students experienced recently was visiting Nurse Trials, where they were able to observe practitioners under oath, testify on malpractice. This was an eye opening experience that left a lasting impression on our students. It was also a reality check for any student that had not considered the accountability aspect of being a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the field.

Had it not been for our new medical instructor and Nursing Director, our students would’nt have had a new sense of optimism and greater outlook on their future careers. We’re happy our students had a positive new experience and that we have new outstanding medical staff.

The WRJC saw a mass exodus today as students headed home for Spring Break, as a CV-19 precaution. The event was orderly and fast-activated with just a few hours prior notice (about 12 hours from the mass departures). Every body on campus chipped in to help with notifying parents of minors, processing required admin paperwork, making travel arrangements, providing travel snacks, updating contact info and especially assisting with the quick-packing of dorms. The efforts by students and staff was both positive and efficient. We’ve also developed a DAILY communication newsletter that will be sent out using WRJC student emails as well as social media. The tool is important in keeping students connected to the center throughout the break period. Students were reminded to check their email daily for updates.

RIVERTON, WY – As students settle in back home for a few unplanned Spring Break weeks, it might be easy getting comfy on the couch and lose sight of goals. The staff at Wind River Job Corps want to help students defend themselves from that lethargy with daily messages of encouragement and action strategies. Our monthly e-newsletter will now be a M-F daily newsletter with short, quit-hits on news about the campus, messages from instructors, and reminders of why students want to make sure to finish their programs and start their new careers.

The newsletter will also serve to help students develop a better habit of checking the WRJC email, strengthening the tool as an effective communication media. We’re encouraging them to do so with a contest for weekly prizes (the

WRTalkAbout becomes a daily message of tips and encouragement for students while on Spring Break.

things they love most – food!) with a final $$ gift certificate winner. All prizes will be awarded when students return to class. The mechanism for being entered into the contest is the student hitting “reply” to the emailed newsletter, including the word-of-the-day in their email text.

Jacksonville Job Corps student leaders and three staff members visited the Florida State Capitol in March 2020. Senate Leader Audrey Gibson invited the students for a tour at the capital to assist in understanding state government. In order to be selected for the field trip students were asked to write an essay about state government. Essays were inspiring and provided the students an opportunity to be enlighten about how state government operates.

Students visited the Governor’s Office, State Attorney General , Senator Leader Audrey Gibson, Representative Tracy Davis and Kimberly Daniels. Students visited both the senate and house side of the capitol. Senate Leader Gibson met with the students and shared what her job responsibilities consist of.

The students ended their tour by sitting in on an ongoing legislative session and visiting the capital museum. It was an amazing trip and both students and staff.

Submitted by: J. Manning

Black History Month, which is celebrated each year during February, is a chance for Americans to learn details of our nations history, unfortunately, are far too often neglected and pushed to the wayside. As the saying goes, black history is American history–and it’s a varied and rich history.

The Student Government Association, led by President Riviera Mew decided to a host/sponsor a Poster Contest for all the trades and classes. Posters, glue, markers and all supplies were provided the SGA. During the weekly business meeting trades proudly put their works of art on display. Each class shared with the audience the significance of their presentation.

Three staff members were asked to judge the presentation based on previously established criteria. It was an amazing display of talent and creativity.

The SGA offered financial prizes for the top three presentations. First prize went to Office Administration ($100.00), the second place winner was C.N.A. ($75.00) and 3rd place went to Pharmacy Tech ($50.00). It was another opportunity for students at the Jacksonville Job Corps Center to display leadership, talent and creativity.

Submitted by: J. Manning

Congratulations to Jason Yantorn, who recently began his position as Safety and Security Supervisor at Red Rock Job Corps Center. Jason isn’t new to Red Rock having graduated from the Brick/Masonry program in the 90s. He spent 1997-2006 in the US Army, remaining in South Korea for several years when discharged. Jason also worked in the Center’s Security Office a few years ago. He’s since obtained his associate’s degree and is currently attending Bloomsburg University working towards a bachelor’s degree. He attributes much of his success to his opportunity attending Red Rock and his former Red Rock CTT instructor, Joe Entiero.

Red Rock Job Corps Center celebrates all of its academic and career technical trade instructors year around, and also especially during this week’s, National Teacher Appreciation Week. Featured is Reading instructor, Lenette Weinman.