Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit, working with young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG brings consistent, compelling results, helping students stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality employment and sustaining jobs and careers.

  • Youth unemployment is at a record high, especially for urban and minority teenagers, and we know this impacts their lifetime earnings and prospects. Yet at the same time, AT&T and other businesses are struggling to find workers who have the mindset, habits, and skills to help us succeed. Click here for the full article.CTNJ 5 7 16

  • neysha flores

    Looking for more JAG workers!

    Like many Connecticut employers, Neysha Flores, above, a vendor services supervisor with National Waste Associates of Glastonbury, is continually looking for workers who are smart, willing and able to learn, and who have the good work habits to fit in and help her company.

    In JAG, Neysha found a great worker, and she would like to find more.

    “Rossana came to us without any business experience, but she impressed us from the first interview, and she has gone on to learn many different elements of our business,” Neysha said, of Rossana Bustamonte, a Manchester High School JAG student she hired six months ago.

    “When she interviewed with us she was well-spoken and outgoing and made a very good impression. She’s doing a really good job, handling everything from cold-calling new vendors to dealing with emergency situations and different types of contracts.

    “She is a good fit for us,” Neysha continued. “I would definitely hire another JAG student in the future.”

  • Zakeya Herring

    zakeyah herringCongratulations to Zakeyah Herring of James H. Hillhouse High School in New Haven! Zakeya received a $1,000 Kenneth M. Smith Scholarship. The scholarship, named for JAG National President Kenneth M. Smith, is open only to JAG students; Zakeyah was one of 23 recipients, from 108 applicants from around the country. The scholarship is renewable next year. 

  • Design Thinking: JAG’s Strength and Effectiveness

    "My support for JAG is also that it is not an adjunct program; it is really built into the school day.

    "The strength of this program… is designing backwards from what we want graduates to look like in the end. Working with industry the message is consistently same: They want graduates that think and can problem solve and have the habits of mind to be part of an organization. The JAG Program, and schools that have that focus built in as part of their day, are better able to achieve this. The JAG program really focuses on teaching explicitly those soft skills and what we call habits of mind . You don’t always find that in conventional education."

    ~Steve Pynn. JAG CT Advisory Board member

    "Having been in education for a long time, I have never had a role like this, and it’s very rewarding."

    ~Justine Meyer, Lead JAG CT and Manchester High Specialist

    Excerpts from MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region, November 21, 2015

  • Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has delivered consistent, compelling results – helping nearly a million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.

Jun
12

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East Hartford Mayor: Be Open To The Possibilities

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Mayor Marcia Leclerc delivered JAGCT seniors a special send-off this month at East Hartford High School, stressing the importance of positive relationships and the wide range of possibilities that await them after graduation. She also gave them a primer on being mayor.

“People want to help people,” Mayor Leclerc told a room full of students in the Jobs For America’s Graduates Connecticut program. “And when you’re kind and considerate to people, people are always going to reach out and help you. Those kind of relationships are important.”

“Make sure that everything you do is a representation of your greater self,” she said.

Mayor Marcia Leclerc: “Make sure that everything you do is a representation of your greater self.”

Mayor Marcia Leclerc: “Make sure that everything you do is a representation of your greater self.”

During Leclerc’s time with the students in the job skill and career-readiness program, she talked about the attributes for success, asked them about plans after high school (most are continuing their education and one is enlisting in the Navy), signed yearbooks and talked about being mayor.

Several students asked Leclerc about her job, including what is her favorite part. She said being mayor “is an awesome job,” but it does require a huge commitment of time, energy and desire to serve the community.

“Keeping 52,000 people happy is a big job, and that’s the population of East Hartford,” said Leclerc, who is running for re-election. “Fifty-two thousand people like to have their voice heard and I like them to have that opportunity to share that voice.”

Leclerc said the favorite part of her job is meeting the people she represents. She told the students her talk with them is one such happy occasion.

She told them to be open to the possibilities of what can be.

“You don’t even know what opportunities there are out there for you unless you are fully engaged and open to experiencing them.”

Jun
10

By

Hillhouse Voter Registration Drive

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jag_voter_registration_drive_3

NEW HAVEN – JAG students from Hillhouse worked numerous hours to plan and execute a voter registration drive for all upperclassmen that resulted in over 40 new registered voters. Students spent multiple days in the cafe during lunch waves encouraging their fellow classmates to register.

And with additional support from the Social Studies department, that number is expected to increase.

In the weeks leading up to the voter registration drive, students worked to create a special Public Service Announcement that played on the Hillhouse News. Collectively, students worked on a script to highlight the message they wanted to convey and videotaped a couple of sessions to bring it all together. A few individuals stood out as the process unfolded.

hillhouse_voteStudents were fortunate to get the help of Hillhouse graduate Troy Oliver, who returned to assist students through the PSA creation process. Oliver is currently a music producer, songwriter, and composer who has worked with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and several others. Oliver’s work can be found at: http://www.discogs.com/artist/210464-Troy-Oliver.

Oliver added a musical interlude after senior Joshua Thammavongsa went above and beyond to edit a quality finished product. Also, thanks to Dania Rodriguez, De’Hja Ellis, and Kentori Brown, who agreed to be videotaped for the PSA, and to Ashley Vigio and Kyanna Sammy, who spent time at the voter registration table helping fellow students fill out the right information.

Jun
9

By

First Annual JAG Clothing Drive at NBHS is a Success

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Students begin designing poster to advertise the first annual JAG clothing drive at New Britain High School

Students begin designing poster to advertise the first annual JAG clothing drive at New Britain High School

The New Britain High School chapter of JAG CT recently concluded a clothing drive that supported the Friendship Services Center of New Britain.

Students worked through March to organize the clothing driving, designating 5 high traffic locations through out the high school and creating flyers and posters advertising the clothing drive.

Throughout the month of April, JAG students collected a total of 8 industrial sized bags filled with gently used coats, shoes, and apparel to be donated  through Helping Hands Community Thrift Store and Furniture bank. Students selected to donate through helping hands because the Friendship Services Center does not take direct clothing donations. Donating through Helping Hands supports a non profit of your choice.

For More information about the friendship Services Center of New Britain and how to donate you can visit their website. And click here to learn more about Helping Hands and how they support over 100 local non profit organizations.

The New Britain High School JAG Career Association would also like to thank the school community for all its orations and help monitoring donation boxes.

Students in in the New Britain JAG Career Association fold clothing donated through the first annual JAG clothing drive at New Britain High School.

Students in in the New Britain JAG Career Association fold clothing donated through the first annual JAG clothing drive at New Britain High School.

 

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