On August 21, 2015, the Hartford Job Corps Academy joined 126 Job Corps centers across the country to celebrate the 5th Annual “National Job Corps Commencement Day”.  Over 120 Clinical Medical Assistants, Certified Nurse Assistants, IFS-Insurance, and Manufacturing graduates walked across the stage. Over 70% of our students enter the workforce in industries for which they were trained and/or pursue higher education.  The Academy’s focus on building meaningful and rewarding relationships with employers has opened career doors for many of our students.

“The dream is free, but the struggle is sold separately,” said Lenita Jacobs-Simmons, National Director, Office of Job Corps, the keynote speaker during the ceremony. “You can dream all you want, but the struggle means that you have to work hard; you have to work for it!”

Congratulatory remarks were also shared by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal; Mayor Pedro Segarra, City of Hartford; Aneta Hrebenko, Boston Regional Director; Sharon Palmer, CT DOL Commissioner; and motivational speaker Malik Champlain, CEO of Passion Hunger Drive.

The Hartford Job Corps Academy located in the State of Connecticut serves over 250 students on an annual basis. The Academy has strong business partnerships and community supporters that include, Carey Manufacturing, Har-Conn Chrome, Co., CT Center for Advanced Technology, CCSU’s Institute of Technology & Business Development, Capital Community College, Asnuntuck Community College, Goodwin College, Compass-Peacebuilders, The Dream Support Network, Hartford Opportunities Youth Collaborative, and the CT Business and Industry Association.

Job Corps is a federally funded, voluntary career training and education program that prepares young people 16 through 24 for careers in today’s job market.  We train, educate, assist with job placement, and provide postgraduate support for students.  The Hartford Job Corps Academy is operated by Education and Training Resources for the U.S. Department of Labor.