S P E C I A L E D I T I O N CELEBRATING 40 YEARS O F H E L P I N G S T U D E N T S A C H I E V E A C A D E M I C , C A R E E R , S O C I A L , A N D P E R S O N A L S U C C E S S ! 1 9 7 8 - 2 0 1 8 MEET OUR BOARD Mike Ratchford, Chair W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc. Ed Capodanno, Vice Chair Associated Builders and Contractors Rachel Anderson Delaware Technical & Community College Steve Baccino Pepco Holdings, Inc. Dusty Blakey, Ed.D. Colonial School District Michael Boyle J.P. Morgan Chase Bob Chadwick New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Heath Chasanov Woodbridge School District James DeChene Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Joseph Divis AT&T Services Inc. Betsy Gibb Bank of America Denise Seastone Kraft, Esq. DLA Piper Sean Montgomery Integrity Staffing Solutions Inc. Nello Paoli Preferred Electic, Inc. Nicole Poore Jobs for Delaware Graduates, Inc. Cathy Rossi, APR AAA Mid-Atlantic David Sheppard, Esq. Thurgood Marshall College Fund Dr. Kenneth Silverstein Christiana Care Health System Pedro Viera PNC Bank A Note From our President: It truly is an honor to lead Jobs for Delaware Graduates into our 40th year of providing critical services to at-risk students throughout Delaware. In celebration of this achievement, we honor the team members who, over the years, have shaped the organization into what it is today. We have had and continue to have staff that is focused on the needs of our students and dedicated to working as a team to move the needle throughout Delaware. We celebrate the relationships we have built with our partners in the community and above all, we celebrate the past, current, and future students enrolled in our programs. We are honored to be part of their success and wish them a bright future. Nicole Poore, President JOBS FOR DELAWARE GRADUATES, INC. (JDG) HEADQUARTERS 381 W. North Street Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 734-9341 Fax: (302) 734-4912 WILMINGTON OFFICE Community Service Building 100 W 10th Street| #106 Wilmington, DE 19801 www.jobsdegrads.org CELEBRATING40 YEARS OF HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE SUCCESS About JDG TABLE OF CONTENTS Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG) was designed in 1978 by five working groups in Delaware, drawn from business, 4 Program Information education, workforce, labor union, and community leadership. The purpose of the organization was to 8 Outcomes simultaneously address Delaware’s unemployment and dropout rates by preparing high school seniors with 9 Curriculum significant barriers, to transition from school to work. 10 Partners Four decades later, more than 65,000 young people have participated in JDG programs throughout the state, and 12 Milestones more than 250 employers rely on Jobs for Delaware Alumni Recognition Graduates for producing enthusiastic, well-prepared, and 14 effective employees. The Secret Ingredients to Program Success. Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG) According to the 2017-2018 data, our As our seniors prepare for is an approved Delaware student's top five barriers to success college, trade school or Department of Education Career include: employment, our 11th-grade Pathway. Our program served Lack of occupational skills students are engaged in entry- students in 23 high schools and 9 Low income level jobs, volunteerism, or middle schools throughout Absenteeism & misconduct internship opportunities where Delaware. Our programs offer a Low academic performance they can apply the job comprehensive curriculum, Disabilities readiness skills acquired in designed to help each participant grades 9 and 10. develop their individual skill set To ensure participants receive the and knowledge base. proper support, our staff develops During the 2017-2018 academic Individual Service Strategies (ISS) year, JDG instructed a total of HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS with students that enable them to set 2,389 high school students, Our mission is to enable students their personal, academic, and career covering topics from personal to achieve academic, career, goals. Using the ISS, our staff grooming and conflict personal and social success. JDG monitors each student's progress resolution to teamwork, works with at-risk youth who face towards achieving their goals and workplace math, money substantial barriers in an effort to provides an additional 12 months of management, increase their chances of follow-up services to all 12th-grade entrepreneurship, and graduation and employment. graduates. occupational preferences. Page 4 | 2017-2018 Annual Report Our Middle School Program has a Students in Action Club, which is a student-run organization linked to the Jefferson Awards Foundation and focuses on recognizing leadership and implementing community service activities. This year, JDG also hosted four College & Career Fairs (Caesar Rodney, McKean, Newark, and William Penn); brought 130 middle school students to Delaware Technical Community College for the Annual College & The Delaware Career Association MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS Career Conference; and attended (DCA) is a student-led association The primary mission of the Jobs Legislative Day, where the DCA designed to develop, practice and for Delaware Graduates Middle State Officers were greeted by refine critical skills delivered in the School Program is to help 6th to State Senators and classroom. Each high school 8th-grade students transition Representatives. program has a DCA chapter, which more successfully from middle elects officers to represent their grades to high school. Specialists school and coordinate development provide an array of counseling, and service activities with the skills development, career GOAL community. association, and practical learning experiences that will Our ultimate goal is During the fall, the DCA hosts an improve participating students’ for participants to Annual Leadership Conference in academic performance, school receive a high Dover, where more than 230 behavior, attendance, students unite for leadership confidence, participation, and school diploma, training and elect State Officers to self-esteem. This year, JDG secure a quality represent Jobs for Delaware served a total of 3,396 middle entry-level job in Graduates on the state and national school students state-wide. the workforce, level. pursue a As true advocates who are postsecondary In the spring, the DCA hosts the dedicated to improving the Annual Competitive Events which academic and employment education, enlist in gives high school participants a success rates of student the military, and/or platform to enhance and showcase participants, Jobs for Delaware seek career their job readiness skills. The top Graduates provides valuable advancement competitors are recognized at our experiential learning opportunities. Annual Awards Luncheon. opportunities for each student. Source: JAG 2016-2017 Annual Report Page 5 | 2017-2018 Annual Report Students at Newark High School Students at Milford Central Academy being honored by Mayor Bryan Shupe learn about archiving through and the Jefferson Awards Foundation for their outstanding community service at the Colonial Swedes. service efforts. STUDENTS W H O C A R E JDG inspires participants to School, Delmar High School, become involved in the world Positive Outcomes Charter, Newark around them. Our community- High School, and all nine JDG based learning activities are middle school programs were designed to encourage honored by the Jefferson Awards involvement, citizenship and for their meaningful public service. 2017-2018 DCA State Historian responsibility through service Mayor Bryan Shupe (Milford), Mayor transporting goods for the Sunday learning projects, volunteerism, Robin Christiansen (Dover), Mayor Breakfast Mission. fundraising, job shadowing, and Mike Purzycki (City of Wilmington), other techniques. and City Council President Hanifa Shabazz' also recognized our Over the four years, JDG students students for their outstanding have completed more than community service efforts. 10, 500 hours of service at local parks, food banks, and non-profit organizations throughout the state. Our thriving partnership with the Jefferson Awards Foundation helps us to recognize and celebrate dynamic agents of change. Middle school students cleaning up Students from A. I. duPont High School at Brandywine State Park. Students at A. I. duPont High promoting their "Give Love, Get love" School, Casear Rodney High social awareness campaign. Page 6 | 2017-2018 Annual Report Specialist Cathy Kemp being recognized by the Caesar Rodney School Specialist Brandon Furrowh as Red Board for being chosen as the Delaware Career Association (DCA) Advisor Clay School District's New Teacher of the Year and Jobs for America’s Graduates Outstanding Specialist. of the Month for November 2017. TEACHERS WHO INSPIRE JDG Specialists work tirelessly to Our team of dedicated Career help students realize their value Placement Advisors (CPAs) acts and ability to do amazing things. as an additional layer of support Our certified Classroom for youth as they prepare to Specialists provide individual and transition into adulthood. group instruction through competency-based curriculum CPAs visit our high school that prepares students in more programs to offer insight into Specialist Patricia Selby being than 37 employability areas. different career fields, provide recognized by the Jefferson Awards mentoring; assistance with Foundation as SIA Advisor of the Year! Our Classroom Specialists are employment or education committed to helping students applications, leads on internships secure career advancing and job shadowing employment and/or