“EngaGED”: Youth Works and Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB)

By: Mike Lee, UWGPC Marketing Intern

“EngaGED” is an innovative jobs initiative of Youth Works, a branch underneath Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board (BAWIB), one of the United Way’s partner agencies, located on School Street in Brockton.    Youth Works helps unemployed young adults between the ages of 16-21, who have not yet completed school, and who are looking to get a job. The initiative serves youth in the city of Brockton, and the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Easton, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Stoughton, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

BAWIB Executive Director Sheila Sullivan-Jardim and Youth Works Associate Andy Martin provided a tour of the Youth Works center and talked passionately about how they’re getting youth off the streets and getting them into their center to provide them with vital educational services.  Due to the national economic downturn, the job market in the greater Brockton area is poor causing problems even for youth who have graduated from high school.  Because of this, the EngaGED initiative is helping young adults who have not graduated from high school to get their GED (general equivalency diploma) and to find a job.  Without Youth Works many of these kids would never have a chance at having a well-paying job or a stable life at home.

EngaGED participants take an entrance exam to assess their current skill levels.  This allows the participants to improve in the areas where they are deficient and they can skip areas where they are already proficient.   Youth Works staff use a webserver to grade and post assignments, and to monitor the progress of students in the program.   EngaGED students and teachers can access one of Youth Work’s computer resources “remotely” from home or other locations making the education process incredibly convenient.

(BAWIB computer lab where kids complete assignments and apply for jobs)

The “Hot Jobs” board shows the young adults of Youth Works how to apply, skills required, wages, location, and any other information important to the applying process of a job.  Youth Works is able to measure results by how many youth and young adults utilize their computers, how many graduate from their programs, and ultimately how many of their participants get a job.

In fact, Youth Works and BAWIB are always actively searching for more entry-level jobs from local employers, so if your company has available positions, please contact them.

(Young adults find out how to apply for brand new jobs in the area)

In speaking with one of the male students from EngaGED, it was inspiring to see how thankful he was for the amazing opportunities that Youth Works and BAWIB has given him, a GED, a new job and a new outlook on life!   His favorite part of the program was the personal guidance and teaching that he received from the youth service associates, like Andy.   His greatest satisfaction is that now he can help support his family.