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| CHICOPEE Along with the HeadStart Program the Job Corps is celebrating 40 Years of addressing the needs of our challenged youth! The Job Corps Program was initiated by then President Lyndon Johnson during the War on Poverty era. The 40th Anniversary Job corps party started in September of 2004 and will conclude on September of 2005. Students from all over the country have taken part in the celebration by performing Service Learning projects throughout their respective communities. In this local area for example students have constructed a retaining wall for the Food Bank, performed a Clean-up campaign throughout the city, installed windows at the local Fire Station and strung the City of Opportunity banners throughout the city. These are all example of the students giving back to the community. The Job Corps is a federally funded vocational training program for economically challenged youth between the ages of 16-24. The Westover Job Corps Center located right here in Chicopee on Johnson Road offers training in 16 vocations including Accounting, Auto Repair, Business Technologies, Brick/Masonry, Computer Repair, Culinary, Electrical, Facilities Maintenance, Health Occupations Profession/Certified Nursing Assistant, Network Wiring, Paint, Pharmacy Technician, Plastering Plumbing, and Welding. Students are afforded the opportunity to also achieve their G.E.D. on-line high School Diploma and even their Drivers License. The mission of the Job Corps Program is to make the student employable through vocational training and employability skills. Students leave with self-esteem, credentials and a desire to succeed. The Westover Job Corps Center was opened in 1978. Having 555 students on-center at any given time is the centers way of reaching out welcoming new students every Tuesday. |