U.S. Department of Labor, Oct 14, 2007US Labor Secretary Elaine L Chao to Make Closing Remarks at Job Corps Annual Leadership Summit
Speeches by 'lost boy of Sudan' refugee who graduated as pharmacy technician and current student born exposed to drugs now hosting teen talk show among other highlightsWASHINGTON — U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao will speak on her "New Vision for Job Corps" when she delivers her closing remarks at the Labor Department's annual Job Corps Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C."America is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, with two-thirds of new jobs created in the next decade requiring workers with more skills and more education" said Dr. Esther Johnson, Job Corps National Director. "Secretary Chao's New Vision will strengthen the Job Corps program and give our students the improved skills and education they need to access these growing employment opportunities."Attendees will also hear inspirational speeches by Job Corps students and graduates. For example, Tiffany Williams, who was born exposed to drugs and put into foster care, is now a successful student in the Brooklyn, N.Y., Job Corps Academy and has her own teen talk show. She will speak on October 15. David Bol escaped, wounded, from a Sudanese refugee camp and successfully graduated from the Job Corps program as a pharmacy technician. He will speak on October 16.Other speakers will include Labor Department Deputy Secretary Howard Radzely, National Director Johnson, and Job Corps Hall of Fame winner Dr. Jess Ussrey of Oklahoma City, Okla. Maj. Gen. David Wherley Jr. of the D.C. National Guard and a Job Corps advisory committee member will offer a special tribute to former Job Corps students who are service members who have or are engaged in the global war on terror.Johnson said, "The department is committed to ensuring that its New Vision for Job Corps serves all 'at promise' youth in a way that helps students become independent, successful members of their communities and provides them with bright futures and solid career paths in the 21st century economy."The 750 expected participants will learn about the progress of new policy initiatives for Job Corps announced at last year's conference, and will attend workshops about strategies for improving services to students and expanding business and industry partnerships. The meeting also will feature choir performances by Job Corps students from around the country.Job Corps is the nation's largest and oldest federally funded job training and education program for "at promise" youth ages 16 through 24. At 122 centers nationwide, the program trains approximately 60,000 youth each year in more than 100 career areas.
