Students from the Jacksonville Job Corps Center got the rare opportunity to attend the National Job Corps Association Policy Forum in Washington, D.C.  Eddie Griffin, Student Government President and Tomas Moya, Vice President attended the event from Feb. 6-10, 2012.  The students escorted by Mr. Kenderson Hill, Center Director and Ms. Joann Manning, Business and Community Liaison for the Jacksonville Job Corps Center  visit and met with Congressional staffers from Congressmen Ander Crenshaw, John Mica, Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio’s office.  The Job Corps representatives were delighted to meet and speak with Congresswoman Corrine Brown.  Congresswoman Brown is a strong supporter of the program and has provided internship opportunities for many students over the years.

The students brought a powerful message to the Legislators….Job Corps Works and it Works for Me!  Mr. Griffin and Moya both shared their challenging past and their praise for Job Corps.  Mr. Griffin stated, “it if wasn’t for Job Corps I don’t know where my life would be right now”.  Students from around the country shared their stories with the congressmen and women and pleaded for continued funding for a program that does so much for so many.

 National Job Corps Director Edna Primrose and Congressman Jim Clyburn, Assistant Democratic Party Leader from South Carolina spoke to the students and staff about the importance of the program and why it must survive.  Students had the opportunity to ask Ms. Primrose a variety of questions about Job Corps, its future programming and funding.

 The final day of the conference was an educational tour of the Washington DC.  Students visited the Lincoln Memorial, MLK Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the US Capitol, House and Senate.  Many of the students had never been out of their home state, ridden on an airplane or been in the nation’s capitol. It was indeed an opportunity of a lifetime.

 This was indeed an exciting week for the students at the Job Corps Center, on Feb. 3, 2013 the center hosted its winter graduation with 100 students completing the program.  The commencement speaker was Ms. Sylvia Johnson, Ed.D.   Dr. Johnson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida.  She was the principal at West Jacksonville for 11 years and Eugene Butler Middle School for 4 years.  As a 41 year educator she now serves as the Elementary Executive Director for 19 Duval County Public Schools.  “

 Fifty students walked across the  stage to receive High School Diplomas and Career technical Training Certificates.  The graduates were honored to have Ms. Melanie Lawson, anchored of TV 4 Morning Show as the Mistress of Ceremonies for a second time.

The center hosts 2 graduations per year in order to facilitate the many graduates completing the program.  Students all over the state returned to participate in the graduation ceremonies.  Once the students complete the program the focus is employment, college, Military or Advance Training