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Young people learn lessons in workplace relationships
Photo by Bruce Matlock
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Published: July 3, 2009
Participants in I-Care's Workforce Investment Act Summer Youth Employment Program gathered at the Civic Center Thursday to learn how to work well with others.
Some 100 teens and young adults from Iredell and Lincoln counties participated in a workshop led by Eric Rowles of Leading to Change.
During the three-hour workshop, participants engaged in various activities and breakout sessions on networking, different personality types, and how to better understand and work with different people.
"They're about to embark on a summer job experience and for some it's their first time in the workforce," Rowles said. "They need to understand it's not the jobs that keep them employed but the relationships."
Workshop participants have been placed in jobs at various partner organizations for the summer.
Partners include Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, the City of Statesville, summer camps, Employment Security Commission, Mitchell Community College and Iredell-Statesville Schools.
West Iredell High student Courtney Jenkins, 17, who is working in the I-SS central office, aspires to have a career in communications.
The summer job program has been beneficial to her.
"I'm exposed to a lot of different personalities and gaining experience in the job force," she said.
Youth involved are in high school, have graduated, enrolled in college, or have dropped out of high school and are members of the year-long WIA program.
They have an opportunity to gain work experience, academic enrichment, and receive leadership training.
The summer job portion of the program began last week and runs through Aug. 14.
Throughout the summer participants will attend seminars on career readiness, entrepreneurship and workplace attire.
Funds for the program are provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for N.C. Centralina Workforce Development in Charlotte provided the money to I-Care.
I-Care was able to open up the program to additional youth this summer.
Recent Statesville High School graduate Charavia Ellis, 18, has participated in the summer job program for four years, gaining work experience at Iredell Memorial Hospital and various summer camps.
"It helps me determine what I would like to do," she said.
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