Division Purpose - Support the Chamber’s Foundation by improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in the Joplin region through programs and partnerships to enhance the educational and training opportunities available to students of all ages.
Programs
Golden Apple
Objective - Recognize excellence in teaching in Joplin’s public and private schools, K-12.
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
Objective - Develop leadership skills in youth who will generate positive action in the community and help resolve future community challenges
TREK
Objective - Develop coaching/mentoring relationships between “at risk” students and community volunteers.
Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, representative member businesses and the Joplin R-VIII school district have begun the development of a youth outreach initiative to help youth acquire the skills that will make them good employees. The initial funding for this program came to the chamber in a grant from the Southwest Region Workforce Investment Board. The pilot program, consisting of 50 students, is targeting at-risk individuals unable to access adequate skill resources and who are in need of vocational direction to adapt to today’s ever-changing job market. The students’ selected for this program will participate in job readiness components such as job applications, resume development, job interview practice, customer service skills, and job retention/survival skills. Special emphasis is being placed on the development of soft skills/life skills, an issue identified in critical status by employers of local youth. An organizational meeting was held at the Chamber and included representatives of major manufacturers, retail stores, banking institutions and service related businesses. All were unanimous in their desire to see the youth exposed to basic skills and continued emphasis on the importance of job performance. The other key outcome desired by this group is the culmination of resources that will ultimately result in drop-out prevention and the importance of a high school degree and the possibility of higher education.
The program will be a series of 6 sessions consisting of facilities tours and seminars, each regarding an aspect of necessary workforce skills. The program began its first session at the Missouri Career Center where the students were all registered on GreatHires and trained in the navigation and utilization of this service. They were also given a pre-test to gauge their current knowledge of job skills. A post-test will also be administered to measure their increased knowledge in these areas. Upon successful completion of the 6 session program, the participants will receive a job readiness certificate, which may be viewed on the Chamber website.
JACC will be actively recruiting our member businesses to support these individuals in their attempts to become significantly qualified to join today’s workforce. One incentive that the already participating businesses have agreed to is a guaranteed interview for each job applicant who has completed the program. We would encourage all of our member businesses to consider joining them in this Employer Interview Pledge. If you would like more information about this program, please contact Cary Beasley at 624.4150. To see the certificate, please click here.