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.

Feb
25

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Cupcake Fundraiser at MHS

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Just before Valentine’s Day Manchester High School’s JAG hosted a fundraiser to support an end of the year field trip!. JAG’s vice president, Cassy Barrett, had the fantastic idea to hold a cupcake fundraiser for Valentine’s day. This Fundraiser was open to both students and staff members. Cupcakes were available to order for just $1 a piece. With each cupcake, there was an option to write a special message to the receiver. Justine Meyer, the JAG Specialist at Manchester High School, ordered 200 cupcake boxes assuming that would be more than enough. After just three days of taking orders for cupcakes during the school’s Power Hour they were sold out! There were three flavors the students and staff could choose from: red velvet, vanilla and chocolate. Red velvet was the best seller by a long shot. Over the course of two weeks, groups of JAG students helped enter orders and fold cupcake boxes. The Wednesday and Thursday before delivery, JAG students and volunteers helped bake, frost, box and label the cupcakes. They were delivered to staff and students on the Friday before Valentine’s Day. The Vice President and JAG Specialist worked especially hard to make make this fundraiser such a success.

Written by: Cassandra Barrett, JAG Vice President at MHS

Jan
25

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Speaking with the Friendship Center of New Britain

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Turning heads as they passed in the halls, students at the Satellite Careers Academy couldn’t help but pause to gather some of the wisdom being shared by Ellen Perkins Simpson, Executive Director of the Friendship Center.

IMG_1130All JAG students are either members or elected leaders of JAG’s Career Association, and as such study and discuss local resources and needs as they decide on community service projects. The SCA’s JAG students have opted to give back to their community by working with the Friendship Center of New Britain. The center has stood as a pillar of the community for decades, with services now including emergency shelter, community outreach and homelessness prevention, and permanent supportive housing.FullSizeRender

 

Mrs. Simpson was kind enough to visit our JAG class Jan. 15th and discuss with a rapt audience the history of the Friendship Center and the services rendered therein. From humble beginnings, Ellen has seen the center evolve over decades. Her involvement came at grassroots levels with her acting as liaison to local ministries to illicit donations and further the improvement of the center. Modern times see the center playing host to low income families with assistive housing and help planning their economic present and future.

 

Participation was key in this presentation as Mrs. Simpson asked each student questions regarding their experience with New Britain’s homeless, how they believe the situation can be improved, and what they can do to help and work with the Friendship Center. Whether via volunteer work or by considering professions that contribute to the Friendship Center’s team of dedicated employees, Mrs. Simpson made it clear that any and all who wished to be a part of the organization were welcomed with open arms!

Jan
19

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City Councilman Manny Sanchez Visits JAG

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On January 14th, New Britain High School JAG participants got the chance to sit down and speak with Manny Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez is a member of the city council for New Britain and is also the Employer Relations Coordinator at Goodwin College. Manny’s personal upbringing and rich experience left students feeling inspired to pursue their dreams.

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The interactive topic of conversation was overcoming adversity. Sanchez states, “you have to do better for yourself, you have to do better for your life. There’s no other option.” The message of perseverance was genuine and the students responded positively to the realness of the conversation. The talked helped students gain the perspective that they, as individuals, are in control of their destiny and that they need to work hard for what they want in life.

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