Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), along with the City of Jacksonville (COJ) and several KHA-funded providers, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 11th, 2022 to celebrate the opening of the a new teen center in Moncrief.
Thanks to a $1,000,000 grant from the Florida Department of Education (DOE) and the support of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville City Council, the new center will help increase Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills in teens living in the Northwest Jacksonville community.
Software and workforce development training will be implemented by three local non-profits partners: 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, Inc., I'm a STAR Foundation Inc., and Goodwill Industries of North Florida, Inc. The program will serve up to 500 youth in a state-of-the-art software development center and will focus on Science and Math exploration for students along with leadership training. The 100 Stars Community Center, a City of Jacksonville Parks and Recreation site, was built specifically for this youth development program in 2020.
KHA is pleased to receive this substantial grant award and partner with local non-profit organizations in providing hands-on training in software development. Participating youth will be well-prepared to be placed in highly sought-after internships, leading to well-paid technology careers. The local employment opportunities in the STEM field are growing exponentially and the business community is looking for a pipeline of qualified employees. Companies such as Miller Electric, CSI, and Florida Blue have collectively committed to hiring certified and qualified youth from this program. These types of public/private partnerships provide youth with hope of securing a future in the growing economy of STEM.
KHA is grateful to the City of Jacksonville, Mayor Lenny Curry, Jacksonville City Council, and, Parks and Recreation, Florida Department of Education, 100 Black Men, I’m a Star, Goodwill, Miller Electric, CSI, Florida Blue, and Logitech for their contributions and commitment to this exciting endeavor. By equipping our youth with these critical skills, we know that this work will have an impact on generations to come. |