Drew Singer’s article “Solutions for ‘disconnected youth’” (Nov. 13) reported that  agencies say that older teens with no jobs or studies are headed to poverty.  Although it is clear that the mayor is encouraging mentoring as a means to solve the problem, mentoring in combination with training at the Job Corps can turn those teens into employed citizens.  Job Corps provides career technical trade skills, industry specific credentials, and GED and High School diplomas so that its trainees can get a job and keep a job.  The Job Corps sets teens on a career path for lifelong learning.   The U.S. Department of Labor has funded Job Corps for 47 years!  There are 124 centers across the nation.  The facility in Pittsburgh is proud to admit to the success it has achieved.  Over the past two years alone:  over 500 high school diplomas/GEDs have been  obtained and more than 1000 were career technical completers in construction, health occupations, culinary arts, business and engineering.  Job Corps provides our youth with excellent opportunities for student success.   The Pittsburgh Job Corps trains 350 youth between the ages of 16-24 in Career technical pathways and 500 in college studies at CCAC.   Job Corps is a program that works.  Direct disadvantaged and disconnected youth into Job Corps.

Molly Taleb

Center Director

Pittsburgh Job Corps