SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Two of the largest and most community-centered organizations in Southeastern San Diego recently began a collaboration that will propel opportunity youth into education and jobs.
San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE)—the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District and the largest provider of noncredit free career training in California—and the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation plan to double the number of “disconnected youth” participating in the San Diego Gateway to College and Career (SDG2CC) program at SDCE to complete education and prepare to join the workforce.
Jacobs Center, with support from the James Irvine Foundation, will provide $300,000 in funding to the SDCE Foundation for a contract to extend programming in SDG2CC to serve an additional 45 students who reside in Southeastern San Diego, on top of the 60 students already in the program.
Students will be guaranteed a San Diego Promise scholarship, which provides two-year tuition/fees for community college, plus $500 per year for books, thanks to the generosity of the Jacobs Center.
Opportunity youth, formerly referred to as disconnected young adults, are ages 16-24 and are neither in school nor working; therefore, are disconnected from education and career. These youth contribute to lost productivity in a region’s workforce and place increased need on social services in a community.
“Intensive case management and paid work experience in the student’s field of study limits the number of students we can serve,” explained Rabbi Laurie Coskey, Ed.D., SDG2CC’s Executive Director. “This new partnership with the Jacobs Center will allow SDCE to double the number of students served to as high as 120 this year, and to as many as 200 next year.”
Community organizations, religious organizations, and businesses can meet social responsibility goals by sharing ideas and resources that help SDG2CC provide meaningful curriculum and employment opportunities for students, Coskey said. She may be contacted via lcoskey@sdccd.edu.
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Preceding from San Diego Continuing Education