Alaska Job Corps Native Dancers welcome all to Open House

Alaska Job Corps students  and staff showed off their center on Friday.  Students explained their skills and pointed out important training elements in their respective  career areas.  Culinary Arts students fed many guests, applicants and potential students.  In the midst of the huge center Open House, Alaska Job Corps Native Dancers sang, drummed and danced a welcome song to everyone. 

Visitors were plentiful and included neighbors from various communities–Wasilla, Chugiak, Eagle River, Houston and Sutton.  Extensive media outreach attracted many from  the South Central area of Alaska, which includes most of Alaska’s connected road system.  U.S. Senator Murkowski’s office sent representatives and Ileen Sylvester, South Central Foundation’s Executive and Tribal Vice-President, visited.  Tours of dorms and recreation center were conducted, in addition to full tours of the Alaska Job Corps Center.   

The Alaska Job Corps Center is operated by Chugach Alaska Corporation for the U.S. Department of Labor.  Partnerships with various employers help to provide a full workbase training program and experience for the 250 students.

The purpose and result of the Open House was to extend a welcome and thank you to the regional community.  Alaska Job Corps seeks to ensure that unemployed, undereducated and low-income youth have an opportunity to graduate and become active contributors to their communities. 

A formal graduation will occur on August 30, in honor of National Job Corps Commencement Day.  Millie Johnson, from Chugach Alaska Corporation, is the Graduation speaker.  The Alaska Job Corps Native Dance Group  will again welcome visitors on center.