NEW ENERGY  WITH STUDENT GROUPS AT THE ALASKA JOB CORPS CENTERS

The Alaska Job Corps Center Student Government Association (SGA)is revved up with a new board and a new heart.   Student government sets the standard for rest of the students at the Alaska Job  Corps Center and that standard is high.  As a part of community service participation, the newly elected and installed Student Government Officers will be working with the Community organization of Special Santa—which provides for the poor and needy population.  Plus the SGA is contributing a healthy cash donation to the charity, on behalf of all the Job Corps students.

Here are some individual stories highlighting newly activated programs which serve to help students with leadership skills:

Y2Y P4P is the Center’s Antibullying and Antiviolence group.  This group is over one year old and has consistently met weekly and discussed how things go on center.   Bullying is not tolerated at the center.  Any problems are discussed by the group and role-play activities are sometimes part of the training.  Outreach and public service are big parts of the Youth 2 Youth/Partners 4 Peace effort and It is more than just talk.Next month is another major community outreach event in celebration of Martin Luther King Day.  That is the week that the Youth 2 Youth/  Partners 4 Peace group will be working at the soup kitchen in Anchorage Alaska.

Students Assisting Students

The Alaska Job Corps has a new Peer Helpers & New Student Advisors Committee which is directed by the Counselors and the Center Standards Officer.  This group of student leaders is working hard on developing a positive guidelines with their peers.  Both on November 10 and November 15 this group received trainings from an equivalent group active in the Matanuska Susitna School District.  Peer mentoring, helping and advising is a proven form of changing behavior from within the student body.  This group is represented at the Student Government Association which has recently elevated all active student groups.

Culture and Diversity Committee

Another strong connection has become live at the Alaska Job Corps Center.   A Native Alaskan Culture Club now meets weekly and is embarking on several projects including mentoring for the Boys and Girls Club.On November 19, the Culture Club, headed by Job Corps employee Nina Black, participated with Elders at a grand Native potlatch, sponsored by the Knik Tribal Council.  This was a time of sharing.  Students served the elders and helped with the take down and clean up.  Traditional and Thanksgiving foods were shared along with card games, singing and good connections between the Alaska Native Community and Job Corps students.  This monthly event will be an ongoing part of the Alaska Job Corps Native Culture Club.  Future events include inviting Elders to the Alaska Job Corps to feast, bead, sew Kuspuks and tell stories of Native Culture.  Native leaders will also be invited along with alumni and youth leaders in the state. Staff members Jane Baldwin and Jesi Ivie are also leaders in this effort.

Several other committees are in play at the Alaska Job Corps Center Student Government Association.   Roger Gossett is leading the training and Barbara Hunt and Shelly Laug are working daily with the SGA group.

The Alaska Job Corps is operated by Chugach Education Services.