The mission of the Albuquerque Job Corps Center (AJCC) is to ensure that all students have access to the resources they require to successfully manage their work lives and to establish and maintain a safe, positive environment which encourages the educational, technical training and social growth and development of students and staff to successfully compete in a global economy. While students are on Center learning their education and trade, it is essential that they are also learning the social aspect of life.

One of AJCC’s strategic initiatives to ensure all students leave Job Corps with pride and thankfulness of all they received is community engagement. Students learn that they must give back to the community that is constantly supporting the Center. One way they are doing this is to help Joy Junction. Since 1986 Joy Junction has been providing services to the homeless of Albuquerque. According to a recent Housing and Urban Development report, an estimated 633,782 people are homeless in the U.S. Joy Junction is doing everything they can to assist everyone who has found themselves in a homeless situation. They service approximately 300 individuals on a nightly basis and they can’t do it alone.

Upon hearing of Joy Junction’s mission the students at AJCC knew they wanted to assist with feeding the homeless, many whom have been homeless themselves. On November 10, 2015, students traveled to volunteer to feed as many people as they can to ensure everyone who wants a meal receives a meal. Through this experience, AJCC student’s learn the value of community service and develop a stronger sense of social responsibility and civic awareness.