Charleston Job Corps Center (CJCC) operating under Horizons Youth Services (HYS) held a student leadership seminar on “Diversity and Inclusion” April 30, 2018 in the center gymnasium with about 20 students. The seminar was sponsored by the Leadership Coordinator and Business Community Liaison (BCL).

The purpose of the seminar was to provide student leadership information through the DVD “Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity” for self-awareness, dialogue, planning and implementing activities on center to promote diversity and inclusion.

Several staff were on hand to kick off the day with Welcome & Occasion byTim Walden, Leadership Coordinator; Daily Norms & Expectation by Lisa Lewis, SPO; EEO Presentation by Dawnetta Courts, Counseling Manager/EEO Officer for students; and Center Director Greeting by Angela Rackley, Center Director. The film by Shakti Butler was facilitated by Tia Welch, BCL and covered topics: History, Identity & Culture, Internalized Racism, Interpersonal, Institutional, Structural and Choosing to Heal.

Students participated in several interactive and engaging activities. A question and answer section was provided after each topic. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16-24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. The Charleston Job Corps Center is overseen by the Philadelphia Regional Office of Job Corps and is operated by Horizons Youth Services.