Goodwill, PA CareerLink, and Johnstown’s Vision 2025 Launch Johnstown Youth Corps

April 27, 2018, Press Release
Community-Based Summer Project Work Program to Employ Youth and Enhance Community

JOHNSTOWN, PA, April 27, 2018—Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, Pennsylvania CareerLink Cambria County, and Johnstown’s Vision 2025 have partnered to create a combination summer workforce development and community project program named the Johnstown Youth Corps (JYC). The JYC is designed to provide youth who are ages 16–24 with paid work experience through the completion of a variety of planned projects. The 9-week program will employ 10 youth for 30 hours per week from June through August.

Youth will participate in one week of pre-employment training and officially be inducted into the JYC and work for the remaining 8 weeks under the supervision of CareerLink adult crew leaders. The JYC will work closely with Vision 2025 Capture Teams, the City of Johnstown, and other agencies to evolve projects and work activities in Johnstown and surrounding communities. Over the course of the 9-week program, youth will be exposed to life-skills training, career exploration, financial literacy, regional and community asset exploration, health and wellness, and community leadership.

“Our vision is that the Johnstown Youth Corps’ impact will be twofold: First, participants will realize a sense of physical accomplishments, be exposed to new places and people, and experience integrated exploration and reflection on opportunity. They will feel a sense of pride in positive community impact while participating in service learning. Second, the community will see and experience the accomplishments of the youth who are helping to further the goals of community groups,” stated Bradley R. Burger, Goodwill’s President/CEO.

The JYC is funded in part by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies’ Community Initiative Fund and by the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board, the region’s leader and active partner in workforce development efforts.

The application process for youth has begun. Interested persons should contact Sarah Helman, Project Manager at the CareerLink, Cambria County at (814) 533-2493, ext. 272 or shelman@gogoodwill.org.

Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies (formerly Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley, incorporated in 1962) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania serving the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon, Indiana, Somerset, and a portion of Westmoreland. Revenue from the sale of donated goods in the organization’s 10 Goodwill Retail Stores supports its mission of empowering individuals and families with employment barriers to achieve their fullest potential in the community through work services. Adult and youth services include education and career services, job placement, postemployment supports, and psychiatric rehabilitation. The agency is an independent, community-based member organization of Goodwill Industries International, a 179-member network in the U.S., Canada, and 13 other countries. Learn more at www.GoGoodwill.org.
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