Taylor gained a program partner that specializes in new job training and bringing GEDs to local young adults.
American Youthworks, a nonprofit that has focused on providing young people in the Austin area career opportunities since 1975, is bringing its YouthBuild program to Taylor.
YouthBuild allows young residents to receive pre-apprenticeship certifications and a GED at no cost.
While learning lessons and getting hands-on work experience in the community, YouthBuild students will get paid up to $250 a week.
“They need a job right now, that’s why many have left school,” American Youthworks CEO Parc Smith said. “We give them the opportunity to come to school for half of the day and do the paid job training. It’s usually something that serves the community.”
The training will have a focus on manufacturing skills and be taught at Shepherd’s Heart, 121 E. Second Street.
“We’ll be doing that in ways that provide service to the community,” Smith said. “What we really believe in at the heart of American Youthworks is seeing the potential in young people and giving them a chance to make a difference in their own community.”
Basic program requirements include being 16 to 24 years old, having an ID, a Social Security card, a birth certificate and not currently enrolled in high school.
Dionne Labatad, the GED/STEM Tech Instructor for the program, said the GED portion is self-paced.
“It is up to the individual themselves,” Labatad said. “Some can take as much as three months to three weeks. If they want to do one test a week because they feel like they can, they can probably get their GED in 30 days.”
Labatad said she recommends those who have been away from school for a while to pace themselves differently than someone who was just in school.
While manufacturing is the main pathway for Taylor’s YouthBuild program, Labatad said that a student who goes through the program has more options for their future than solely gaining a manufacturing job.
American Youthworks is partnered with Austin Community College to give students who graduate YouthBuild a chance to transfer their GED and continue their education.
In addition, Labatad said students learn job skills during their training that translate to any profession.
“We’re going to be teaching you financing, how to budget, any life skill a young adult needs that they don’t normally get in high school,” Labatad said. “In high school, you go through your education program and that’s it.”
An open house was held Tuesday, Feb. 6, and classes began Wednesday, Feb. 7. Currently, five students are enrolled, and three others are in the enrollment process. Students can still enroll as the program is just beginning.
For more information, contact YouthBuild at [email protected] or 512578-8265.
Service members in the construction field were present at the YouthBuild open house at Shepherd’s Heart Tuesday, Feb. 6. From left: Kate Rigdon, Aaron Patterson, Hillary Loza-Mondragon and Nacho Martinez. Photos by Hunter Dworaczyk
American Youthwork’s YouthBuild open house at Shepherd’s Heart took place Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors could talk to students, teachers and American Youthworks officials.
