Ford City YES! Center Grand Opening  Community leaders, youth, and employers joined Central States SER on Wednesday, December 3rd to celebrate the opening of two new Youth Empowered to Succeed (YES!) Centers on the southwest side of Chicago.  These centers will deliver training, education, and career development services for the youth under the YES! Program, administered by Central States SER. Representatives from various organizations such as Children and Youth Services, Daley College, Juvenile Probation, and the U.S. Department of Labor attended this exciting event commemorating the opening of two new centers where youth can come to attain educational or employment opportunities in a safe and engaging environment. Both centers will serve at least 150 youth per year with services such as GED preparation, academic enhancement, job training and placement, career counseling, workshop and skills training.  Some of the youth served by the YES! Program have dropped out of high school while others have a conviction in their records.  At the ribbon cutting to officially inaugurate the centers, youth also shared their experiences as participants at the YES! Centers. Juan Ramírez, one of the program’s participants, said he is very excited about the opening of the two new centers.  “This program has changed my life”, said the 17-year-old who is currently taking classes to complete his GED and would like to go to college.  Cristoff Washington, a 19-year-old getting job training and career counseling with the help of YES! youth development specialists, said that “the program gave me a second chance in life.”  Click here to view photos of this event  Click here to read about one youth’s report on the Grand Opening About the Program:  In December 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Central States SER – Jobs for Progress, Inc. one of six expansion grants out of 109 applicants nation-wide to expand our existing youth development programming. The Youthful Offenders Expansion Program (YOEP) serves out-of-school youth who are both male and female, ages 14-21, gang-affiliated and/or court-involved throughout the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The YOEP is designed on the principle that an effective community-based program that provides engaging academic and career-focused activities will decrease violence, recidivism, and court-involvement among youth. The YOEP is a replication of the comprehensive service model currently operated by SER in the Little Village community. The program improves the long-term career and educational prospects of young offenders by increasing their leadership skills, educational attainment and employment outcomes. The YOEP works effectively to meet the needs of youth offenders and re-direct them on a path of education, career, and leadership.  Services that we offer:  The YOEP offers a variety of educational, career, and leadership services to our youth to help them gain the skills that they need for a career path and future success. The following is a list and brief description of services that are offered by the program:  
  • Career Development Training • Job Placement Assistance • GED Classes and Tutoring • On-line High School Diploma Recovery • Post-Secondary Assistance • Youth Job Clubs and Job Fairs • Leadership Development • Financial Literacy • Computer Literacy • Social and Emotional Guidance • Mentoring   Locations:  The Youthful Offenders Expansion Program is servicing youth in two new communities in Chicago:  • Ford City Professional Building • 7601 South Kostner • Chicago, Illinois 60652 • Archer Heights • 4621 South Cicero • Chicago, Illinois 60632 grand_opening_pictures.htmleric_brown.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1

SER

CENTRAL STATES

JOBS FOR PROGRESS, INC.