New Jersey Youth Corps Graduates Class in Newton

The Sussex County New Jersey Youth Corps recently awarded high school diplomas to students at a celebratory graduation ceremony at Project Self-Sufficiency. The 16-week program offers education and training in preparation for the high school equivalency exam. Commemorative photos, along with caps and gowns, were provided by Project Self-Sufficiency Board member Kathy Esposito and Legacy Studios.

Students from the program’s most recent graduating class will continue their education, join the workforce or enter the military.

“This innovative program offers young adults who might not have been successful in a traditional high school setting the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, get on-the-job training and receive essential support as they enter the next stage in their life,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “We are proud to have been able to support these individuals as they move on to college, a career or military service.”

The New Jersey Youth Corps offers young adults, ages 16 – 25, the opportunity to augment their literacy skills, prepare for the high school equivalency exam, obtain on-the-job work experience, and transition into a career, college or the military. Participants must be Sussex or Warren County residents, aged 16 – 25, who have not completed high school. In addition to classroom instruction, New Jersey Youth Corps participants take their learning on the road to wildlife preserves, social service agencies, state parks and other institutions where they assist with work projects and other tasks. The 16-week program operates multiple times a year; enrollment for the spring session which began February 26th is still open. The summer session begins July 9th.

Those New Jersey Youth Corps students who achieved their high school diploma through the program include Grace Cory, Andrew Fetterman, Maverick Lusha, Iris McKay, Hezekiah Todd-Givens and Alexis Youells. Additional New Jersey Youth Corps program graduates include Shaina Acevedo, Brian Bosco, Samantha Chudley, Celina Giaimo, Kyle Peck, Daniel Matt, Bryce Muir, Brendan Schneider, Maranda Springstead and Giorgio Van Horn.

“Participating in the New Jersey Youth Corps has changed me,” comments New Jersey Youth Corps graduate Hezekiah Todd-Givens, 20. “Here I am a leader. I find myself going above and beyond.

Without the New Jersey Youth Corps, I probably wouldn’t be on track to fix my life. I want to go into sports medicine. I will do two years at Sussex County Community College, and then go into the Navy. I would fight for my country.”

The next cycle of the New Jersey Youth Corps cycle will launch February 26, 2018. Project Self-Sufficiency is offering a $100 gift card to those who refer young adults, ages 16 – 25, to the 16-week program. To receive the gift card, referred individuals must enroll in the program, complete the two-week orientation and be inducted into the program. The curriculum includes assessments, testing, employability skills training, life skills workshops, academic instruction, community service projects, field trips, and counseling services. Program participants will prepare for the high school equivalency examination, and receive a stipend of $100 per week, based on attendance for the full week. Free transportation is provided. Childcare is also provided free of charge at the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center.

The New Jersey Youth Corps, which is funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, is also in operation at sites around the state, including Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Newark, Paterson, Phillipsburg, Pleasantville, Trenton and Vineland. Those who are interested in learning more about the New Jersey Youth Corps at Project Self-Sufficiency are encouraged to call 973-940-3510. To register for the New Jersey Youth Corps at Project Self-Sufficiency, or to find out more about other programs and services offered by Project Self-Sufficiency, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.