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CANDLER COUNTY Vevian Lee, Youth Program ​ Vevian Alexandria Lee is a 23-year-old out-of-school youth from Candler County. She was enrolled in the WIOA Youth Program because she needed assistance to attend college. With the help of WIOA, she was able to graduate from Georgia Southern University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, Health and Kinesiology. She is now attending Graduate School at the University of North Georgia where she is pursuing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Vevian said, “I was able to put my schoolwork and studies first because of the support I was given, and my grades improved. This program is an invaluable resource that helps give many people opportunities that they would not ordinarily have.” Previous Next < Back AUGUST 2021

EVANS COUNTY Michael Boyd, OJT/COVID Work Experience Program Michael Boyd moved back to his hometown in Evans County after being laid off due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Michael, at 59 years old, was searching for help to get back on his feet. He reached out to Job Training Unlimited for assistance and was a perfect fit for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act COVID DW Work Experience Program. Michael was placed in employment training as a Sanitation Worker/Street Laborer at the City of Claxton in March 2021 and completed training in June 2021. Because of his hard work and determination, Michael became employed with the City of Claxton shortly after his Work Experience Training ended in June 2021. Michael has been an absolute joy to work with during his time with us. We are so proud of his accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds for him. Michael shares his story: “For someone who has no degree, this program has been very good to me. I love the people that I work with, and everyone has been very supportive in every way. I want to thank everyone who helped me get started with the City of Claxton. I moved back home after being away for approximately 10 years. I needed a job, and Ms. Claire helped me in so many ways. I will always be appreciative of her, Job Training Unlimited, and Harold Rogers at the City of Claxton for giving me a chance and helping me put my life together after coming home. I have been home for 7 months, with Job Training Unlimited for 4 months, and 3 months with the City of Claxton. I have been moved to a full-time position, earned uniforms, given a company telephone, and became part of an incredible team. I am so thankful for this job because I did not have to settle for a job that I didn’t like. It means so much to come to a job every day that I enjoy. I will always be grateful for everyone’s support and kindness here at the City of Claxton. I want to thank everyone. I hope to be with you all for a very long time.” Previous Next < Back AUGUST 2021

WHEELER COUNTY Jeremiah Bridges, Youth Program Jeremiah Bridges is an 18-year-old from Alamo, Georgia. He came to WIOA when he was in 10th grade in high school to seek help to find employment so that he could gain work experience. He was enrolled in the WIOA In-School Youth Program in January of 2020. Jeremiah’s goals were to complete high school and go on to college for Auto Mechanics. During his time in the Youth Program, Jeremiah participated in Work Experience and was placed at Selph’s Body Shop. He has been a positive young man and worked very hard to accomplish his goals! Jeremiah is now a 2022 graduate of Wheeler County High School. Jeremiah shared his appreciation for the WIOA Youth Program by saying, “The work experience program taught me how to do things and gave me the experience I needed in the real world to work a real job.” Previous Next < Back JUNE 2022

BLECKLEY COUNTY Michelle Hillard, Georgia Department of Services Parental Accountability Court Coordinator The WIOA One Stop System partners with the Georgia Department of Services to facilitate additional resources for our communities. This partnership has provided access to technology and individualized employment services for many rural residents. Michelle Hillard, Parental Accountability Court Coordinator with the Georgia Department of Services, Division of Child Support Services, shares her experice working with the WIOA One Stop System in Bleckley County. "The WIOA program in our community has greatly benefited many individuals, including myself. This program seeks to help those overcome the barriers which prevent them from being capable of meeting their child support obligation. One such barrier that is constant is unemployment. The WIOA program has been a great resource for those that I serve. Technology is forever changing and touches every facet of our lives. Many employers rely on the advantages technology affords during employee recruitment. The days of pen and paper applications are nearly obsolete. Those seeking employment require technical skills to secure sustainable employment. When I work with participants at the WIOA One Stop, they have the advantage of networking in a relaxed environment. The Resource Specialist always helps provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. The application process can be intimidating for some. At the WIOA office, an individual acquires confidence and self-assurance. With each completed application, one opens the door to opportunity and self-reliance. We work together to formulate resumes, upload cover letters, and fax applications. Participants learn to market their skills. Our economy is forever changing. We must surround ourselves with resources promoting improvement. The success that I value the most is for an individual to continue to utilize the services provided through WIOA One Stops even after employment is obtained." Previous Next < Back MAY 2023

BLECKLEY COUNTY Briana Reyes, ITA Program Briana Reyes was enrolled in the WIOA ITA program in February 2021. She was determined eligible as a Dislocated Worker under the National Dislocated Worker COVID-19 Grant. She was attending Middle Georgia State University pursuing a degree in Nursing. Briana needed financial assistance with the costs of the program. WIOA helped cover the expense of tuition, books, supplies, testing fees, and transportation. Briana attended school full time and graduated in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. When asked about WIOA Briana replied, “I am so grateful for being accepted in the WIOA program. I received help with the cost of tuition, school supplies, and textbooks. The transportation money I received allowed me to pay for gas commuting back and forth to class and clinicals each week. They also helped me pay for my cap and gown for graduation and provided reimbursement for the cost of taking the NCLEX. Without the help of WIOA I would have had to take out several student loans. I hope WIOA continues and can help other students like me achieve their goal of earning a degree without worrying about financial assistance.” Previous Next < Back FEBRUARY 2022

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Alaina West, Youth Program Alaina West enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Out-of-School Youth program to receive help to obtain her GED. Since being in the program, Alaina has worked diligently towards earning her diploma. She completed her Adult Education Classes passing all parts of her GED exam, and received her diploma on June 24, 2021. Alaina is currently working at Ace Hardware in Mt. Vernon and plans to enroll in Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia to become a Dental Hygienist. We are so proud of Alaina’s accomplishments, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for her. Alaina voiced her appreciation for WIOA and her case manager by saying, “Ms. Kayla and Job Training Unlimited helped me make a huge accomplishment in my life by not only providing financial assistance, but always pushing me to do my best and having faith in me! I can’t thank them enough for that.” Previous Next < Back NOVEMBER 2021

CANDLER COUNTY Miriam Marlin, Youth Program Miriam Marlin is an 18-year-old In-School Youth from Metter, GA who was enrolled in WIOA in November of 2019. She was in the 10th grade and needed assistance to complete high school. She wanted to gain work experience and was interested in working with children. Through the Youth Work Experience (WEX) program, which works with local employers to place youth in temporary employment, Miriam was able to work at the Candler Boys and Girls Club. She graduated high school in May of 2022 and is now attending East Georgia State College pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. Miriam had this to say about her experience in the WIOA Youth Program, “The WIOA program has been very beneficial to me. Working with the children at the Boys and Girls Club helped me decide what I wanted my major to be in college. It gave me a lot of preparation for what to expect in the future. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.” Previous Next < Back NOVEMBER 2022

WILCOX COUNTY Kristen McRae, ITA Program Kristian McRae, a native of Wilcox County, was attending South Georgia Technical College’s Licensed Practical Nursing Program when enrolled in the WIOA program. She was recently laid off and having problems finding employment. With the lack of income, the financial burden of completing the LPN program was overwhelming. Kristian needed WIOA assistance to help with her tuition, supplies, and the daily transportation stipend to continue attending school. She graduated from the Nursing program in December 2022 and has since passed her NCLEX. Kristian was a great participant, and we are very proud of her accomplishments. Kristian shared her experience by saying, “I am so grateful that I was able to receive WIOA funding. Without WIOA, I am not sure how I would have been able to pay tuition and all the other costs that are associated with the nursing program.” Previous Next < Back JANUARY 2023

APPLING COUNTY Kayla Carter, ITA Program Kayla Carter of Appling County was in the Nursing Program at Southeastern Technical College when she was laid off and needed additional financial assistance to help cover her school costs. Kayla applied for and enrolled in the WIOA ITA program in November of 2022. WIOA provided her with transportation stipends, daycare assistance, and helped cover the cost of tuition, fees, uniforms, and supplies. Kayla earned her Associate of Science degree in Nursing and accepted a full-time RN position at Jeff Davis Hospital. Kayla shared, “I heard about WIOA from a friend who was in the nursing program with me. He told me how helpful they were, and I was signed up three weeks later. As a mom with two small kids, it was very helpful to have WIOA to help pay for my tuition and reimburse me for things such as scrubs, shoes, stethoscopes, etc. I was able to graduate thanks to the help I received from WIOA.” Previous Next < Back JUNE 2024

APPLING COUNTY Sierra MacDonald, Youth Program ​ Sierra MacDonald is a Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Out-of-School Youth Participant who lives in Appling County. She is a mother of 2 small children and needed assistance to obtain her GED so she could further her education. Because of COVID-19, she has been attending Adult Education Classes online at Southeastern Technical College and is working hard to obtain her diploma. Sierra plans to further her education and attend Southeastern Technical College for a degree in Dental Hygiene. Sierra said, “WIOA has helped me in so many ways! I have learned you can do anything you set your mind out to do.” Previous Next < Back APRIL 2021

APPLING COUNTY Anna Rentz, ITA Program ​ Anna enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Individual Training Account Program on January 17, 2020. She attended South Georgia State College for the Associates of Nursing program. When Anna applied for WIOA, she worked at the Appling County Board of Commissioners to cover the cost of school. Anna maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout her program. Anna successfully completed her program of study and received her license on June 3, 2021. Anna is now working as a Registered Nurse at Wayne Memorial Hospital. Anna was always a pleasure to work with, and we are so proud of her accomplishments! See what Anna had to say about the WIOA Program: “I appreciated this program tremendously! It allowed me to get a degree and not worry about some of the expenses of school. It helped me pay for textbooks and even paid for my State Boards to become an RN. This program is a great asset for college students to reach their goals.” Previous Next < Back JULY 2021

TOOMBS COUNTY Amber Yawn, ITA Program ​ Amber Yawn applied for the ITA program after being laid off from her job at Metro Power. She always had an interest in the nursing profession and decided to apply for nursing school in 2019. She enrolled in the LPN Program at Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia. Once Amber was accepted into the LPN program, she realized she would need financial assistance to help cover the program cost. She immediately applied for the ITA program and was determined eligible as a Dislocated Worker. WIOA was able to assist Amber with tuition and book costs as well as travel. With the help of WIOA, Amber was able to attend full time, and she maintained a GPA above 3.0. Amber graduated with her LPN Diploma in December 2020 and now works full time as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Jeff Davis Hospital in Hazlehurst, Georgia. Amber was a pleasure to work with, and we are so proud of her accomplishments! When asked about the WIOA program, Amber replied: “The WIOA program was truly a blessing for me, and without this program, I would not have been able to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I not only gained the financial ability to pay for my tuition, books, and supplies, I also gained friendships that will last a lifetime. Ms. Tanisha, my WIOA Case Manager, still reaches out to me to see how I am doing. I am honored to have been part of the WIOA program because without this program, I would not be where I am today.” Previous Next < Back MAY 2021

JOHNSON COUNTY Brianna Clifton Hall, Youth Program Brianna Clifton Hall is a 21-year-old Out of School Youth from Johnson County, Georgia who was enrolled in WIOA in November 2019. She had recently earned her GED and wanted to gain work experience and needed assistance enrolling in college. She decided to attend Southeastern Technical College with the hopes of earning a degree in Business Healthcare Technology. During her time in WIOA, she participated in the Work Experience Program and Occupational Skills Training. While attending college, she received transportation stipends and financial assistance with books and supplies. In May 2024, she graduated with her degree in Business Healthcare Technology. Brianna had this to say about her time in the WIOA Program. “WIOA helped me purchase school materials and to have gas money for transportation to my classes. My case manager was always just one phone call away.” Previous Next < Back MAY 2024

CANDLER COUNTY Johnny Collins, Youth Program Johnny Collins Jr. is an In School youth from Candler County. Johnny was enrolled in the WIOA Youth program in November 2019. He was in the 11th grade and needed assistance to improve his grades to be on track to graduate and find employment. Johnny worked hard to bring up his grades and was also a member of the Metter High School Basketball team. During his time in the program Johnny completed occupational skills training and participated in the Youth Work Experience Program. While working at the Metter Boys and Girls Club, Johnny had the opportunity to mentor elementary age children and connect with them through his experience as a high school athlete. He was a wonderful asset to their program and his community. At the end of his junior year, the world was turned upside down by the COVID crisis and he had to complete his school year virtually. Johnny worked very hard during this time and passed all his classes. Johnny has since graduated high school and is now employed full-time at Chicken of the Sea. We are very proud of Johnny and his accomplishments. Johnny had this to say about his experience with WIOA. “I have learned how to manage my money in a way that will help me with my future. I took away so much from the program. It was a great experience. Thank you for this opportunity.” Previous Next < Back APRIL 2022