Perkins Job Corps student Tyler Celek reads a Thanksgiving story about giving to others.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps “Reading to Lead” and “Youth2Youth” student leaders, along with their reading instructor Betty Barlett, headed to the Porter Elementary Head Start classrooms for a morning of Thanksgiving activities. Students read stories to the class, and followed up with Thanksgiving and other fall craft projects. The Perkins students assisted the preschoolers with their reading, listening and fine motor skills during the activities, while brushing up on their reading and public speaking skills.

Activities such as these support the Job Corps career training program called Reading to Lead, which encourages students at its 125 centers nationwide to raise reading levels and promote literacy in their communities. Through Reading to Lead, centers have access to resources to support their yearlong literacy efforts on center and in the community. Student reading ambassadors at each center motivate their peers in raising individual literacy levels and participating in community reading activities, such as reading contests, center book clubs and community book drives to support local schools.
Youth2Youth (Y2Y): Partners 4 Peace is a student-led anti-violence campaign that involves the 125 Job Corps centers across the nation. Perkins Y2Y student ambassadors promote peace and non-violent solutions on center and in the community.

Perkins Job Corps thanks Porter Elementary School for allowing our students to participate in these activities.