Workforce Development

An Evaluation of a Job Well Done!

The Centralina Workforce Development board and the Centralina Youth Council held its first annual State of the Region Youth Services Summit at the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord on Friday September 14, 2007.

The Summit had over 70 participants that participated in the first of many annual Youth Summits offered by the Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council.  Guest Speakers included Thomas Barksdale II, a motivational speaker, and Lakeshia Liphford, from Job Corps.  Participants attended workshops in the morning and in the afternoon session, attendees were able to hear from a panel that represented youth agencies.

We were fortunate to get responses via written or electronic evaluations from a total of 58 attendees.  Some of the comments we received were that the Summit "was a great learning experience", "very informative", "a great opportunity to make new contacts", and "overall, a great summit."  Suggestions for next year's Summit were "to include youth", "invite employers and politicians", and to "have workshops teaching independent living skills."

Attendees came from all over the Charlotte USA Region as well as some from out of region.  Guilford County Department of Public Health sent representatives to participate and experience the Centralina Youth Services Summit so that when it came to preparing their own upcoming Youth Summit they could refer back to what occurred at the Centralina Summit.

The workshops were well received by all attendees and had high participation rates.  The workshops included "Digging for Gold: Tips for Successfully Searching for and Securing Grant Money", "Make Me Marketable! How the Career Readiness Certification Can Work for Youth!", "There's a lot to Learn About Money", and "What's Next for Me? Find Out What There is Out There for Youth After School."  Workshop presenters represented Central Piedmont Community College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, The Federal Reserve Bank, and the R3 Center.

For more information on the Centralina Youth Services Summit please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org.

Centralina Youth Services Summit a Great Success!

On September 14, 2007 the Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council held its first annual State of the Region Youth Services Summit at the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord.

The Summit had over 70 participants that were welcomed by David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board, Bob VanGorden, Centralina Workforce Development Board Chair and Carol Johnson Centralina Youth Council Chair.  Attendees were also given a motivation talk by Thomas Barksdale II.  Thomas Barksdale II is a motivational speaker and is the author of "It's All About You, A Young Adult's Guide to Positive Living."  He also works as a partner with many of the Centralina Workforce Development Board's Youth agencies.

Participants attended workshops that included "Digging for Gold: Tips for Successfully Searching for and Securing Grant Money", "Make Me Marketable!  How the Career Readiness Certification Can Work for Youth!", "There's a lot to Learn About Money", and "What's Next for Me?  Find Out What There is Out There for Youth After School."  Workshop presenters represented Central Piedmont Community College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, The Federal Reserve Bank, and the R3 Center.  During lunch the group heard an informative presentation from guest speaker Lakeshia Liphford from Job Corps who gave some tips on recruiting and retraining youth in the region.

In the afternoon session, attendees were able to hear from a panel that represented youth agencies in every county in the Centralina region.  The panel discussed best practices that participants were given the chance to ask the panel questions.

The first annual State of the Region Youth Services Summit was a great success!  The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council would like to thank all of those who participated and hopes that the information given will help agencies reach the youth in the region.  Survey results from the Summit will be added to the Centralina WDB Blog within the next few weeks.  If you are interested in presenting at or attending the 2008 State of the Region Youth Services Summit, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org.

If you attended the Summit and would like to leave some feedback please click here.