Old Dominion Job Corps Center joined 123 Job Corps centers across the country to celebrate the 10ᵗʰ Annual “National Job Corps Commencement Day” ceremony August 18, 2021 to congratulate the Job Corps students who showed Job Corps Works! by completing the program this year.
Recent Job Corps graduates employed in Virginia, employer partners, local policymakers, community
leaders, family members and many others recognized these students’ achievements and the investment
they made in their futures and community.
“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you
really want to go,” said Steven Smith, Old Dominion Job Corps’ Center Standards and Incentives
Manager and Pastor at Eighth Street Baptist Church. Smith was unanimously chosen by Old Dominion’s
staff and students to serve as the keynote speaker.
Old Dominion Job Corps Center is one of 123 Job Corps centers located across the country. A unique
national program, Job Corps offers underserved youth a set of diverse academic opportunities and
career pathways tailored to meet the needs of business and industry. Each year, Job Corps gives
tens of thousands of youth a second chance to complete their education and advance into careers,
higher education or the military.
Job Corps has served more than 3 million out-of-work young adults and underserved youth nationally.
Many are high-school dropouts or public-assistance recipients, and Job Corps helps them become
active contributors to their communities.
“Hard work and perseverance will turn your biggest dreams into reality.” said Kenneth Williams,
Old Dominion Job Corps’ Center Director.
Local business leaders attended the ceremony at Old Dominion Job Corps Center to support a program
that benefits the local economy. The average Job Corps center supports 228 local jobs, and every
dollar invested in Job Corps returns almost $2 to the local economy. Nationally, the 123 Job Corps
centers support about 30,000 jobs, the vast majority of which are with private businesses.
Local community members who have worked with Job Corps volunteers also joined the celebration to
congratulate many of their student volunteers. Job Corps students and staff work with local
community-based organizations and nonprofits, logging many hours of volunteer service every year.
For example, Old Dominion Job Corps Center students work with One Community One Voice to provide
needed services to communities in the center proximity.
“The 10ᵗʰ Annual National Job Corps Commencement Day is an extremely special day for our program,”
said National Job Corps Association President and CEO, Byron Garrett. “The Job Corps community –
our students, their families, center staff, operators, community leaders, employer partners and
supporters – worked hard to transform futures that will lead to a lifetime of preparation and
success. The devotion of our community is why Job Corps has such strong bipartisan support in
Congress and why it continues to be the most successful job training program for America’s
underserved youth.”
Stacy Green, National Job Corps Association, sgreen@njcaweb.org
About Job Corps
Job Corps, which is funded by the Department of Labor, is the nation’s largest job training and
education program for low-income young adults ages 16–24. It is a mostly residential program,
located in both urban and rural areas, with dormitories and a campus environment like small
colleges.
About Odle Management Group, LLC
Founded in 2004, ODLE Management Group, LLC (Odle) is an experienced workforce development provider which manages the daily operations of Job Corps campuses to include outreach, admissions, and placement services. Current locations include in Louisiana
(New Orleans), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), Florida (Pinellas County), Virginia (Old Dominion in Monroe), Texas (El Paso) and Oklahoma (Tulsa), New Mexico (Albuquerque). As of March 2020, Odle became a subsidiary of Eckerd Connects, a national non-profit operating in 21 states, providing Job Corps, workforce development, child welfare, juvenile justice, and community-based prevention services.
List of graduates, trades
Avery, Teyonna D. Medical Administrative Assistant
Brown, Stacia CNA & Medical Administrative Assistant
Drew, Shjon P. Pharmacy
Eaddy, Janaya U. Certified Nurse Assistant
Gainey, Josiah D. Plumbing & BCT
Garcia Tanzhez, Linda M. CNA & Clinical Medical Assistant
Hashim, Khalihl Automotive
Hogan, Lorrette K. Automotive
Hutchinson, Anjelica CNA & Clinical Medical Assistant
Johnson, Niasha Security
Nzeyimana, Dieudonne Security
Paige, Kashon Security
Pleasants, Donovan L. CNA
Reilly, Robyn H. Clinical Medical Assistant
Renzo, Liza M. Clinical Medical Assistant Solis-Shepperson,
Chelsea M. Pharmacy
Thurston, Tyler I. Clinical Medical Assistant & CNA
Williams, Nasir Clinical Medical Assistant & CNA
Williams, Tanayzia C. Security
Wilson, Xavier I. Security
Below is more information about the Old Dominion Job Corps Center and students.
Old Dominion Job Corps Center opened in 1978 with all female students. Male students started
coming in June 1979. The center’s student population has always been around 300. AVCO
International Services was the first contractor to operate the center. The center has had several
other contractors over the years – Teledyne Economic Development Services, ITT Federal Services,
ResCare Inc., and now Odle Management Group.
The Job Corps program was created during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
It was part of Johnson’s War on Poverty and Great Society initiatives. That sought to expand
economic and social opportunities for Americans, especially minorities and the poor.
What is Job Corps?
Job Corps is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country and has been
operating for more than 50 years. The program helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24
complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with
obtaining employment. Job Corps has trained and educated over two million individuals since 1964.
At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in specific training
areas for up to three years. In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain
career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services,
such as help finding
employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Job Corps graduates either enter the workforce or
an apprenticeship, go on to higher education, or join the military.
Old Dominion Job Corps is one of 122 Job Corps Centers located in the United States. We’re located,
in Central Virginia, near Lynchburg, VA. We are ranked 27th among the Job Corps Centers and are
proud of our dedication to the core mission; the long-term success of our students. Our program has
no cost to those who qualify. Our students come to Old Dominion from all over the state.
Longitudinal evaluations of the Job Corps’ effectiveness have found that the program improves
wages, literacy, and credential attainment while decreasing criminal activity and reliance on
public assistance. Eighty-eight percent of all Job Corps graduates are place in jobs, higher
education or, the military.
Job Corps targets economically disadvantaged and at-risk youths with additional education,
vocational training, and support services to help them secure stable, high-paying jobs. Another
important aspect of becoming a productive citizen is to teach civic awareness and respect for
others.
Virginia needs skilled laborers’ (carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers and maintenance
techs, welders, machinists), medical field employees (medical and nursing assistants, pharmacy
technicians), auto mechanics, and security protection officers. We train our young people and try
to keep them right here in Virginia? Virginia Job Corps, offers trades in Auto (General Service
Tech), Building Construction Tech, Electrical Wiring, Carpentry, Painting, Plumbing, Certified
Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Tech, and Security Trade.
Below is a short video of our center.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/h2iwwhc562cqq1b/DEC+VIDEO+FINAL.mp4/file
CONTACT: Trish Jones Mondero
(602) 622-7941 or
jones-mondero.trish@odlemanagement.com
