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.

Oct
28

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Manchester Community Honors JAG Students and Officers

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Congratulations to Manchester High School JAG Students and Specialist Justine Meyer for a successful Initiation and Installation Ceremony last Friday!

Mayor Jay Moran, State Representative Mark Tweedie, Principal Jill Krieger and Keynote Speaker Ryan Parker were among the guests and family members who gathered to witness the swearing-in of elected Career Association officers and all members of the Career Association itself.IMG_8362

“At first I thought JAG would just help me get a job,” Career Association President Victoria Leon told the crowd. “But already Mrs. Meyer has taught us a lot of other life skills. She helps us sit down and think about where we want to go and what that takes.

“I have As and Bs now in all my other classes because of JAG,” she added. “It’s helping me stay on top of other things.”

Students worked hard to plan the event and decorate the venue. JAG student Cassandra (Cassy) Barrett also worked on her own to create and decorate a selection of cupcakes that added an elegant touch to the event!JAG-CT-cupcakes-galore

Students also selected Ryan Parker for the keynote speaker, and the Illing Middle School teacher and poet shared his story of growing up next door to a crack house in Norwich.

“I didn’t want to be like that,” he said. “It made me determined to go to college and made me competitive to succeed.

“By committing to be part of JAG and this experience,” he continued. “you are taking the first steps to success. Remember who you want to be.”

 

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Oct
26

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Helping New Britain Families in Need

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food drive (2)

The “hunger heroes” is what Kyara Vargas, senior at New Britain High School, said we should call ourselves here in the JAG Program. Throughout the month of September, the JAG Career Association members promoted a can drive for hunger action month. The students made posters, shared messages on the morning announcements and spread the word during passing time.

Originally, students wanted to donate the collection to a local homeless shelter for children and families. However, there was a change in the drop-off destination when the can drive was completed. In the early month of October, there was a tragic house fire that devastated three New Britain families, leaving them with an endless amount of loss of a loved one and a life’s worth of belongings. The JAG students wanted to help by donating the proceeds of the canned goods and the nonperishable food items to the victims. Over a five week span, the students and faculty members here at N.B.H.S. donated six large shopping bags of food items.

The collection of food items was brought to Chamberlain Elementary School where two of the house fire victims attended school. As a community, there were many items donated including, clothing, toys and food items. As the N.B.H.S. JAG Program our hearts were filled knowing that the contribution was going to those who needed it most at such a difficult time.

In the photo above are seniors Kevon Bradley, Catera Haughton and junior Samantha Kilduff.

Oct
20

By

Rep. Tweedie Visit MHS JAG Students

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State Rep. Mark Tweedie returned last week to his alma mater – Manchester High School, where he spoke with students in Justine Meyer’s JAG class about getting elected, being successful – and the difference between making tea and making teeth.

A 1974 graduate of MHS, Tweedie shared with students how his mother’s death when he was a freshman led to a lot of absences and a struggle to graduate.

But he also shared some advice that’s the essence of JAG: “Education is an important element in getting a job,” he said. “But it’s how you conduct yourself among people you work with, and for, that’s most important.”

He also asked students about their aspirations, talked about going door-to-door while running for office, and advised students about the importance of a high school diploma and good work habits.

“If your’re willing to work,” he said, “people will hire you.”

A humorous note came early on when Tweedie described how after high school, he got a job making teeth for his girlfriend’s father. This skill served him well when he went into the Navy, secured employment as a dental technician, and later when he opened his own business – Tweedie Dental Arts, still in operation, on Center St.

Students listened quietly for a time, until one asked about the technicalities of making tea – allowing Tweedie to make clear he was making TEETH – not tea.

Thanks to Rep. Tweedie for his time and interest in MHS JAG!

 

 

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