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by | Dec 9, 2023 | Insider Newsletter

Job Corps Insider Newsletter – December 2023

Dec | Insider Newsletter

9 | Insider Newsletter

Job Corps Insider Newsletter – December 2023

Message From the NJCA President

Dear NJCA Community,

Happy Holidays! There is a lot to be thankful for this season as, despite varying challenges as well as opportunities, you have continued to serve students in ever-impactful and powerful ways this year. As your membership association, we are honored to have had the privilege of working alongside you in ensuring the persistence and success of Job Corps.

Amongst the things that we are happiest about this season at the NJCA is the recent introduction of the Stronger Workforce For America Act (SWAA), a bipartisan bill reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill includes many provisions conceived by our community including key provisions related to increasing OBS, zero-tolerance flexibility, procurement, operational flexibility, and creating new funding opportunities for Job Corps campuses. The inclusion of these provisions all but ensure that the next iteration of Job Corps authorizing legislation will address our community’s priorities. This is the first step in that reauthorization process, with the full House and Senate yet to weigh in. As there are parts of the bill with which we do not agree and we believe need to be modified, the NJCA is continuing conversations in both the House and Senate regarding improving the language in this bill.

2024 does look to be a monumentous year as it is the 60th Anniversary of Job Corps! The Operators Advisory Committee (OAC) met in November and identified key reasons for the NJCA to actively celebrate this milestone year, including the opportunities it provides to highlight the successes of students, staff, partners and Job Corps overall. Working towards the desired outcomes identified by the OAC, which range from engaging students, alumni and the public to recognizing the important contributions of staff and fostering greater recognition of Job Corps, the NJCA is proud to kick off a year-long series of celebrations and acknowledgements in January, details of which will be shared with you in the coming weeks.
 

Our many thanks go to the members of the NJCA 60th Anniversary Planning Committee, the members of which include the experience and perspectives of alumni, staff, CDs, small businesses, large businesses, the Forest Service, affiliate members, varying NJCA committees, and the NJCA Board. We look forward to sharing details of the celebration in the New Year!

From an operations standpoint, in these last few weeks of the year, NJCA staff has been diligently working on the many aspects of the Association that make it possible to serve you well. In addition to our very visible and important government relations and policy work, other activities range from membership renewals and strategic planning to potential new member outreach, professional development design for members, and coordination of 2024 NJCA conferences. I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing NJCA staff and we look forward to the many ways this work will directly positively impact the membership in 2024! As a note, the NJCA office will be closed from December 25th through January 1st, and will re-open on Tuesday, January 2nd, to launch what we believe will be an amazing year.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that, while the holidays are a very happy time for many, it is a difficult time for some. From students to staff to leaders, experiences in life can lead to heavy hearts rather than happy hearts this time of year. We come alongside you at this time to tell you that, whether your days are currently merry and bright, or you’re struggling to put one foot in front of the other each day, we celebrate you. It is from the depth of our experiences that we serve and we’re glad that you’re with us. Your greatest gift is you, and we thank you for your presence.

Wishing you the best for the season,
Donna


Donna Hay
President and CEO,
National Job Corps Association

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Government Affairs Update:
U.S. House Introduces Job Corps
Reauthorization Bill

Leaders from the House Education and the Workforce Committee recently released their bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the statute which authorizes Job Corps, reauthorization bill: H.R. 6655 A Stronger Workforce for America Act (SWAA). SWAA includes many provisions conceived by NJCA members to make Job Corps more responsive to our students’ needs. This includes NJCA-identified priorities related to increasing on-board strength and streamlining enrollments, behavioral management and student retention, procurement stability and operational flexibility, and Job Corps 2.0. While acknowledging many of the bill’s improvements to Job Corps, it was still led by the program’s chief critic in Congress, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and thus includes some concerning and punitive provisions related to performance, safety and security, demonstration projects, and more.

Last week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee marked-up and passed SWAA out of Committee with a nearly unanimous, bipartisan vote (44-1). The bill will now be moved to the House floor for consideration by the full chamber, however, it remains to be seen when House leadership will consider SWAA in the new year. The NJCA and Job Corps’ congressional allies will have many opportunities to improve provisions or address concerns.  Either via a floor amendment in the House when SWAA is considered for a full vote, or in the Senate where the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will need to introduce, mark up and pass their own WIOA reauthorization bill.

The NJCA is continuing conversations in both the House and Senate regarding improving the language and bill.

Community Partner Spotlight:
Chautauqua County Rural Ministry’s
Friendly Kitchen



Throughout the month of November, Cassadaga Job Corps students spent their Saturdays volunteering with an incredible organization: the Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk, NY. The Friendly Kitchen is part of the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, Inc., established in the early 1950s to meet unmet needs in the community. For over five decades, the Rural Ministry has provided food, clothing, and shelter to those in need, emphasizing that the community members who utilize their services could be your neighbor, your relative, or your friend. The Friendly Kitchen provides a hot meal to anyone in need, 365 days a year, including holidays. You can learn more about all of their programs through their website here: https://theccrm.org/. Thank you to the Friendly Kitchen for being a phenomenal Job Corps Community Partner; we look forward to continuing to work together to serve the community of Chautauqua County!

December Alumni Spotlight:
Queen Stewart, CNA

For our December Alumni Spotlight, we’re getting to know Cassadaga Alumna, Queen Stewart! As a young person in the South Bronx, Queen once struggled to find her place in the world. Her life took a transformative turn when she looked to Cassadaga Job Corps. Queen enrolled in the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) program, dedicating 10 months to mastering the skills that lead her to earning her CNA certification. For an additional three months, she contributed her expertise as a CNA in the Work-Based Learning program, gaining invaluable real-world experience.

Queen’s ambitions extended beyond the healthcare realm—she also took Driver’s Ed and emerged with a new driver’s license. Today, Queen extends her compassionate care to seniors at the Pruitt Health Nursing facility in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reflecting on her Job Corps experience, Queen emphasizes the transformative power it held. The Work-Based Learning (WBL) program became the cornerstone of her financial independence. With newfound confidence, she navigates her career path with determination and passion, having discovered a sense of purpose that eluded her before Job Corps.

In Queen’s own words, “Never give up on something you really want. It’s difficult to wait, but worse to regret.” Congratulations, Queen!

Exciting Job Corps Leadership Updates!

During the NJCA Fall Leadership Summit on November 1-2, our members heard from leaders from the Department of Labor and the Office of Job Corps. Erin McGee now serves as the Acting National Director, since the departure of Rachel Torres, former National Director. Pictured above with Acting National Director, Erin McGee is Peni Webster-Lewis, Acting Deputy Director, and Raquel Rimpola, Deputy Administrator for Operations. Our community continues to collaborate, share best practices, and exchange ideas and information to strengthen the Job Corps ecosystem.

Member’s Quote of the Month

 Brendan O’Hara, Vice President, Government Affairs; Donna Hay, President and CEO;
Stacy Y. Green, Director, Operations/Administration
 

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