The Charleston Job Corps Center (CJCC) operating under Horizons Youth Services (HYS) recognized National Minority Awareness Month during Monday Business Meeting on August 21, 2017 with guest speaker Karen Williams. Mrs. Williams is a volunteer with CORE (Center for Organ Recovery & Education). Her personal experience with a best friend in need of an organ donation led her to this work. She is a strong advocate for minorities and others registering to become organ donors and leads by example.

About 200 students plus staff watched the Chris Henry story on video https://goo.gl/photos/FxwChPQVo7UAs8BF6. Chris Henry, 26, was an NFL player for the Cincinnati Bengals who died a day after falling out of the back of a pickup truck and his mother made the decision to donate his organs.

DonateLiveWV.org says, KNOW THE FACTS:
• Organ Donation is only possible after all lifesaving measures have been taken. Medical teams will do everything in their power to save your life. Also, transplant teams are separate from medical teams.
• Most major organized religions support organ, cornea and tissue donor. At the time of your death, medical professionals will determine what you can donate.
• Donor families do not pay for the costs of donation.
• One person can save up to 8 lives with organ donation and enhance the live of 50 more with tissue and cornea donation.

Thousands of lives are saved and improved through organ donation. Organ donation gives other people a second chance at life. It is imperative that more individuals register to become organ donors, especially minorities. A common perception is health professionals will not save or preserve life of an organ donor. We must dispel this myth! Registering to become an organ donor is simple and easy to do. “Even though 130 million people in the U.S. have registered as donors we all need to sign up. 116, 674 people are waiting for an organ” according to www.organdonor.gov.

Check the box at your local DMV or register online at www.donatelifewv.org The choice you make today can make a lasting impression in the life of someone in the future. Williams provided literature and bracelets for registered donors. In conclusion, everyone was encouraged to register to become an organ donor.

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.

Group Picture: (First Row) Camille Grady, Jose Perez, Vashawn Ragsdale, Karen Williams, Ariel Workman, Alexandria Manns, Leisy Flores
(2nd Row) Franklin Webb, Levante Love, Tiana Freeman, Ty Quan Wiley, Elizabeth Reynolds and Joshua Averill

Group 2 Picture: CJCC Certified Nursing Assistant Students are pictured with Karen Williams, CORE Volunteer (holding certificate) and Willie Brown (tan shirt) Center Director