LAS VEGAS, NV – Vegas PBS has received a $98,237 corporate grant from MGM Resorts International to fund a program aimed at assisting youth in the juvenile system acquire skills for in-demand careers.
Youth in the juvenile justice system, who are disproportionately youth of color, often face daunting barriers into careers. According to a report from the Council for State Governments, youth in the juvenile justice system typically lack basic proficiency in math and reading, possess little to no employable skills or job experience, are credit deficient in school and can suffer from their juvenile records preventing them from gaining access to employment, college or vocational training.
Vegas PBS, in collaboration with several community partners including the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services, Workforce Connections, the Clark County School District, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Services Youth Advocacy Program and Help of Southern Nevada, will be undertaking this effort by providing online workforce education to students at Summit View Correctional Center and Spring Mountain Youth Camp. Students will be able to continue studying these courses once transitioned out of correctional facilities and will be partnered with mentors from aligned sectors who will give guidance on soft skills, career culture and resume building.
“The results are dramatically different between juvenile youths who enter a progressive career pathway program and those who don’t,” said Debra Solt, Director of Vegas PBS’ Workforce Education. “We’re very proud to be partnering with so many organizations to provide access to these courses to disadvantaged youth and hope that it can ultimately lead to a drop in recidivism.”
From teacher professional development courses to certifications in construction and trades, Vegas PBS’ Workforce Education provides Southern Nevadans with the means to pursue high-earning, high-demand careers. With over 370 career programs and 1,000 short term and compliance courses, Vegas PBS’ Workforce Education helps all community members find the path to fulfilling careers. To learn more, visit vegaspbs.org/workforceeducation
About Vegas PBS
Vegas PBS is a member-supported public television service providing educational content for over 50 years. Vegas PBS builds community through television, education services, and unique experiences that create a sense of place, civic and social capital. For 12 consecutive years, Vegas PBS has remained among the top five most-watched PBS stations in the country. The station offers five unique secondary channels: Create, VEGAS PBS KIDS, WORLD, Rewind and Jackpot! The station collaborates with community partners to create award-winning content that examines informational, cultural, historic, and educational regional issues.
Vegas PBS provides a robust variety of education services that extend the educational experience beyond the broadcast. Resources and services include Vegas PBS’ Ready To Learn educational workshops for children and families, professional development for teachers, online learning courses and certifications for adults, multimedia educational support for educators, 22+ channels of educational and local news for in-classroom viewing, and a Special Needs Resource Library serving those with special needs throughout the state of Nevada. Vegas PBS’ Workforce Education department also offers more than 350 online education courses and nationally accredited certifications, to help connect the community with high-wage, high-demand careers.
Vegas PBS viewers can access their favorite shows across multiple platforms including broadcast, vegaspbs.org, the PBS Video App and the PBS KIDS Video App. For more information, visit vegaspbs.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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