As part of the first-ever Mentor a Job Corps Student Day, U.S. Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-11th District) hosted two students from Joliet Job Corps for a one day internship in his Joliet district office June 9.  Chelsea Brock from Camdenton, MO, and Antonio Grissom from Milwaukee, WI, were two of several students selected nationwide to meet with staff during the most recent congressional district work period.

Brock and Grissom spent their day learning about constituent services, legislative policy, office management and communications. “I learned that most Congressional aides start as unpaid interns,” said Grissom. “Congressional staff work long hours,” he said. “Communications Liaison, Brook Hougese, gets up at 6 a.m. to read all the newspapers in the district, and then, she works until 6 p.m. every day!”

“The work they do is very important,” he added. “I especially enjoyed meeting with Casey Gorham and Pam Lofrano, caseworkers, because I was impressed by how hard they work with people who need help. One day I think I may want to work in public service, too,” Grissom said..

Job Corps is the most effective dropout recovery and career preparation program in the nation. Job Corps’ unique residential nature provides allows the program to provide young adults’ not only high school diplomas and industry-recognized credentials, but also the quality social and employability skills training that employers regularly cite as the most important entry-level workforce qualification.

Joliet Job Corps is rated No. 7 in the nation out of 124 Centers. For information, see http://joliet.jobcorps.gov. This day was sponsored by the Friends of Job Corps Congressional Caucus and National Job Corps Association.