After identifying "at Risk" youth through other youth serving organizations such as schools and juvenile justice systems we tailor a program for each of them that has developing productive adults as its primary outcome. After an initial assessment we establish a consistent level of competency in each of them by training them to publish and distribute a community based newspaper linked to Internet Web Pages. They will learn to use several commercial computer applications in this process and will develop job ethics, oral and written communication skills as well as negotiation skills. We will also teach them any life skills that our initial assessment determines is below social standards in this initial phase of our program. In this initial phase of the program we will team "At Risk" Youth with college bound high school students to create a "Breakfast Club" atmosphere coupled with adult mentoring.
The next phase of our project immerses them in the vocational aspect of our program. They will choose between Offset Printing, Screen Printing, Publishing, Optical Dispensing, Automotive Repair and the Building Trades, (ie; Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical and Welding). It is part of our mission to persuade the School Districts to allow kids that are not college bound to replace their last two years of High School with our vocational training and link it to Western New Mexico University. Idealily, when the program is fully implimented we will be able to offer kids an alternative to an unproductive High School experience with the prospect of a High School Diploma, job skills and a Certificate of Training from Western New Mexico University.
The final phase of our program places the kids in actual work environments and gives them them opportunities for actual work experience in the areas they have been trained in. It is time for our community to recognize that rather than just telling our kids to "Stay in School" and have them graduate with their greatest prospects being in the fast food industry we need to provide them with greater opportunity to be productive, successful adults. Please help us to enhance our community by participating when asked, at whatever level you can feel comfortable with, as we lead our children into a brighter future for them and their community.