JVG Connection, September 2024

The President and CEO of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, Antonio Rice, and Program and Data Manager Courtney Clemons recently sat down with Tom Landon, the host of Blue Ridge PBS's What it Takes, to talk about JVG's impact in the state of Virginia. The show is scheduled to air on October 2, 2024, and will be available online as well. Jobs for Virginia Graduates is grateful to Blue Ridge PBS for giving them the opportunity to spread the word about what all of our specialists across the state are doing for our students.

What it Takes is in its sixth season, and its host has been an educator in Virginia for many years. From the Blue Ridge PBS website: "Winner of multiple awards from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, What it Takes features experts and committed citizens to our studio to discuss timely issues affecting Southwest Virginians. Hosted by BRPBS Director of Educational Innovation Tom Landon, WIT embodies the spirit of our ECHO Channel, featuring topics on Education, Community, Health and Opportunity."

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Oops; I mean, IT’S JVG SEASON!!! Welcome back (players) students and (coaches) specialists. We are very excited about this upcoming (season) school year. I’d like to welcome all the new schools into the BIG JVG Conference. JVG will look a little different with the addition of Keli Blyth, Assistant Offensive Coordinator. She’s just what we needed to assist specialists in developing a game plan for successful outcomes. I’m not going to lie: It’s going to be tough to continue our 26-year streak of being awarded the Jobs for America’s Graduates 6 of 6 Award. But I feel we have the right people in the right place, who are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we get the job done as we serve our incredible (athletes) students.

This team relies on sources outside of the locker room to help us get over the goal line. As always, we are looking for organizations, large and small businesses, and private donors to help support our efforts. We all have a role to play, no matter how big or small. You can make a difference, you can change a life. You can be a champion. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you're interested in contributing to the success of our team. LET’S GO!!

Each Jobs for Virginia Graduates site forms a Career Association with their students, with officers in place who are eligible to apply for a state Career Association office. Career Associations are meant to be completely student-led, with students identifying ways that they can help their schools and communities and then developing projects to do so. By working together in this way, students develop leadership skills, learn to work effectively in a group, and connect with their communities.

Last year, we heard about many wonderful things JVG students across the Commonwealth did for others in their communities, from renovating disused spaces around their schools to providing holiday events for deserving young children. At the state level, Virginia Career Association officers attend JAG's National Student Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C., where they are able not only to develop their leadership skills but to network with students around the state and connect with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. These officers also help to coordinate student events for Virginia's JVG students during the year. Up to two officers from each JVG program are eligible to apply for state office; they can do so by completing this application by October 18, 2024.

Meet Khloe, an ambitious and compassionate 7th-grade JVG student at William Monroe Middle School. Khloe aspires to become a travel nurse, driven by her desire to explore the world while making a difference in the lives of others. Her commitment to caring for people is evident through her volunteer work at the local food pantry, where she dedicates her time to helping those in need. In addition to her volunteer efforts, Khloe actively participates in a non-profit after-school program that allows her to stay on top of her studies while enjoying quality time with her friends. Her passion for learning is matched only by her enthusiasm for building relationships and community.

When asked about her experience in her JVG class, Khloe shared, “This class teaches us about kindness and fairness. We learn how to cope with our challenges and reach our goals. We also talk about building a community and ways to help our community. Everyone is awesome!” Khloe's dedication to her education and her community reflects her bright future and unwavering spirit as she continues to strive for her dreams.

Phalishia Johnson is the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Special Populations Specialist with Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia. This is her fourth year as part of the Jobs for Virginia Graduates family and her twenty-first year with Norfolk Public Schools. During her tenure, she has had the opportunity to teach special education career development courses, serve as a co-teacher in Algebra 1 and Geometry, and provide hybrid instruction in business management, business law, economics and personal finance. She now facilitates workplace readiness development and postsecondary skill building and training at the Norfolk Technical Center, reaching students from all five Norfolk Public Schools high schools.

Being given the role of JVG specialist has allowed Mrs. Johnson to combine both her special education and career and technical education knowledge in support of student success. She is passionate about promoting equity and opportunity for special populations in the K-12 career and technical education setting and expanding postsecondary possibilities. When asked why programs like JVG are so important, she shared that “JVG is an opportunity for all students to realize their true potential. It’s an opportunity for me to aid student in widening their lenses, helping them see themselves as an asset to today’s labor force. Through the program, students have access to innovative, cutting-edge, rigorous, and relevant opportunities that will build their toolkits and prepare them for the world of work.” When asked what is her favorite part of being JVG specialist, she replied, “The follow-up conversations and connections. Listening to students connect what they’ve learned in JVG, as well as in their CTE courses, demonstrates that the skill building and training provided yields life-long effects. Hearing the success and knowing that I had a small part in a student pursuing the goals for the future is a reward unmatched. I look forward to working with the students each year and even more so to their overall success! Equity and Excellence for ALL – NO MATTER WHAT!”

We are currently building a database of organizations across Virginia as a placement resource for student job shadowing, volunteer service, and internship opportunities. Visit https://jobsforvagrads.org/partnerships/ for more information about how you can help!