The objective of the JAG Model program is to provide participants with classroom & work-based learning experiences that result in a quality job, and lead to the career path of choice upon graduation. The JAG National Curriculum equips participants with 85 Employability Competencies to prepare for success in the workplace. The following lists the 37 Core Competencies (A-F) that students will be required to master in their junior and senior year. Finally, the remaining 45 Non-Core Competencies (G-I) also covered in the JCG program are explained, as well, as they pertain to work & life skills.
Students are introduced to JAG curriculum, including the development of academic schedules, election of professional career association chapter officers, fundraising events & community service projects. Students participate in Leadership Development Civic Awareness, Career Preparation, Social Awareness, & Service learning while developing skills to prepare for post-secondary education, & career pursuits. Below is a brief overview of the classroom curriculum subject matter, as it pertains to employability skills and the coordinating learning activities in which we engaged.
JAG (37) CORE COMPETENCIES
A: CAREER DEVELOPMENT:
Development of an individual's aptitudes, abilities, interests, goals & desired lifestyles
B: JOB ATTAINMENT:
Job search skills important to job and professional development and placement
C: JOBSURVIVAL:
Realistic survival skills for success in dealing with the day-to-day work environment
D: BASIC SKILLS:
Skills critical to success on the job and in everyday life, including basic math calculations, and creating and comprehending written & verbal communications
E: LEADERSHIP & SELF-DEVELOPMENT:
Function effectively in team & group projects and activities on the job or an organization
F: PERSONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:
The ability to assume responsibility for one’s actions and decisions; Demonstrates an understanding of how these personal decisions affect future employment potential & life satisfaction
G: LIFE SURVIVAL SKILLS:
Life and social skills consist of knowledge & aptitudes necessary for a person to function independently, gain employment and avoid employment interruptions, thereafter.
H: WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES
Job survival skills that are expected of successful, productive employees, such as punctuality, attitude, critical thinking skills & prioritizing & effective time management
I: ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Understanding insurance, money management & how to start a small business
CAREER & LIFE –RELATED TOPICS
Where Have You Been & Where Are You Going?
Goal Setting – Self Management
Internet Personality Assessments
Identify Personal Values/Skills
Cost of Living–Vs.–Living Wages
Decision Making Skills
Career Exploration Overview
Career Research
Career Vocabulary
Career Related Speakers
Career Related Field Trips
Education and Training Overview
Vocational Training vs. College: Research 4-year, 2-year & Career Colleges & Vocational
College/Financial Aid Vocabulary
Research/Apply for Scholarships
FINAID/FAFSA/FASTWEB
How To Get, Keep and Excel In A Job!
Business Letters: Cover Letter, Thank You Letter and Letter of Resignation
Career Gear: Dress for Success
Create a Professional Resume
Employment Application Skills
Telephone Interview Techniques
Interviewing Skills Activities
How to Research a Business
Cultural Proficiency
Employer Expectations
Professional Etiquette
Life Skills
Personal Budget
How to Open a Bank Account
Obtaining Personal Documents
Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates & Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 2024-2025
Aiken New Tech High School
Hughes STEM High School
North College Hill High School
Oyler High School
Robert A. Taft Information Technology
Shroder High School
Western Hills University High School
Winton Woods High School
Withrow University High School
Woodward Career Technical High School
It’s June 1st and the beautifully orchestrated graduation ceremony is just a memory. The last day for teachers has come and gone. Time to exhale and soak up the summer sun, right? Not if you’re a JCG Career Specialist. The summer is an opportunity for the specialist to ensure the career plans of our students are met, now that there’s plenty of time to spend 1-on-1 quality time with our students.
The “Enviable” Life of the JCG CAREER SPECIALIST
ThemonthofMayandJuneisamadscrambletoensuretheJAGnational datasystemisfullyupdated with accurate data regarding the outcomes of both current year students/graduates, and the placement goals for the previous year’s graduating class. June is also the month when JCG students have an opportunity to take a “test ride” in their career of choice. Each summer our students can apply to become engaged in an 8-week internship for a career of their interest. The JCG Summer Internship Employment opportunity (SWEO). At the beginning of 2nd semester, students indicate their interest in participating in an internship opportunity. The Career Specialist –That’s Me – recommends the applicable candidates to the JCG Workforce Engagement Program Manager. Participating students interview & present their qualifications and interests and then partnered with a local employer; Students are paid on a tax=free basis. This year salaries topped $14.50/hour x 24 hrs/week x 8 weeks = $2784.00 … Not Bad! They are also given Bus fare and Gas cards for transportation. Every Friday, studentsgatherforreflectionandfurtherworkforcetrainingwiththespecialists.Specialistsalsomake periodic visits to their students’ work locations. July is the time when good JCG Career Specialists become better JCG Career Specialists.
We spend the predominance of the month in training, learning how to better serve our students. July is the month when representatives from Jobs for America’s Graduates affiliates, near and far, congregate & share best practices. Last summer the conference was held in Las Vegas, where best practices were shared by all. Wonder where we’ll be next summer!
In August, Specialists are busy preparing & planning for that ever-so-important 1st day of school. All of these things are done in concert with continued student interaction, growth & service to influence a positive future outcome. We follow and serve the graduates of the previous year’s class to ensure they are meeting the 3-E: Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment goals they set for themselves during the previous school year. Then, we start all over again.
JAG Ohio Career Association: North College Hill High School Chapter
The Career Association is an in-school student-led group that enhances the learning of basic skills: reading, communicating through its curriculum surrounding public speaking, writing, & math. The Career Association allows members to practice teamwork, planning, leadership skills, & responsibility.
The Career Association is a student-led organization
The Career Association develops the total person – as a leader and a follower
3. The Career Association provides opportunities for personal and career development
4. The Career Association nurtures a competitive spirit through participation in Competitive Events
5.
The JCG I&I Ceremony
A Catalyst for Leadership in JAG Nation
Each year, JCG students participate in the student-led Initiation and Installation Ceremony (I&I), an event that marks a significant milestone in their journey through the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. More than just a ceremony, the I&I is a celebration of leadership, commitment, and the values that define JAG. The North College High School Chapter of the Ohio Career Association was initiated, & its Officers installed on October 24, 2024.
Planned and executed by students, the I&I ceremony is a showcase of their organizational skills, responsibility, and teamwork. From menu planning to the guest list, students take charge of every detail, ensuring that the event reflects their unique personalities and the spirit of JAG.
During the ceremony, students reaffirm their commitment to JAG’s 5 Career Association Goals: Leadership and Development, Career Preparation, Civic Awareness, Service Learning and Social Awareness. These goals guide their activities throughout the year, fostering personal and professional growth.
A highlight of the I&I is the induction of new officers, followed by the recitation of the JAG Career Association Creed. Through this oath, students pledge their dedication to developing the skills and knowledge necessary for success. The creed underscores the importance of individual growth, teamwork, & community involvement.
This year’s keynote speech was delivered by Lamont Bohannon, CYC’s new GEAR-UP Director at North College Hill H.S. Also, our multi-talented Career Association President, Braylon Dennis played a duet on his violin with Mr. Robert Stockton, Vocal/Piano music instructor, who played the song “Powerful” on piano. Samantha Murry-Shakir, JCG @ NCH was the alumni introductress for our ceremony.
Our new administrative leadership team here at NCH was in attendance, Maura Craig-Roach and Dr. Brian Collier. Dr. Collier gave an inspirational address to our students to encourage students’ dedication self as they begin their career journey!
JCG students are
. NATIONAL
MANUFACTURING DAY
JCG/CYC @ MetalWorks Cincinnati, OH
Manufacturing Day, an initiative of the Manufacturing Institute the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Assn. of Manufacturers empowers manufacturers to come together to build excitement about manufacturing careers. The event has become such a popular event that it has been expanded to MFG month.
JCG @ NCH students visited the Metal Works Company, that has a facility right in our neighborhood, on Pippen Rd and another in Fairfield, OH. Students learned about possible career opportunities at Metal Works in:
Architectural fabrication
Structural welding
Stainless welding
Equipment repair
Maintenance
and the winner is …
During October, JCG students said YES!
Mrs. Erica Garrett Collective Empowerment Group and Mr. Lawrence Cain Abundance University came into class to enlighten students through a 6-session program.
The program consists of the following lessons:
Week 1: Fundamentals of Owning and Running a Business Week 2: Growth Goals
Week 3: Challenges and Stages of Small Business Growth
Week 4: Financial Awareness
Week 5: Marketing Your Business
Week 6: Accessing New Capital and New Markets
Young Entrepreneur Society (YES) Program
Presentation Date: November 5, 2024
The YES Program is sponsored by Collective Empowerment Group. Collective Empowerment Group is a non-profit ministry and marketplace organization that seeks to build economic empowerment and community development opportunities for churches and business owners in our city.
The program is sponsored by United Way of Greater Cincinnati, in partnership with Lawrence Cain Jr. of Abundance University and LaMarque’ Ward of Dream Builders University, both organizations work hard to impact the lives of youth through financial literacy.
At the program’s end, students made a presentation about their business interests. The best idea\as & presentations won a prize.
The following students collected a prize:
Jaylen Avery White
1st Place $100 Prize
Kayden Gibson 2nd Place $75 Prize
Amirah Green
3rd Place $50 Prize
YOUTH @ THE BOOTH
Civic participation provides hands-on learning, fosters further civic involvement, improves the elections process and promotes community by proving young adults an opportunity to contribute and make a difference. Students 17year-old and older are able to serve as poll workers in Ohio.
Youth at the Booth Participants attended a training class at the Hamilton County BOE and Worked Monday night before Election Day for polling place set up. On election day, they worked 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM, earning $225.00 tax free for their service! They also received community service hours. Not to mention, what a boost to their college applications.
Voter Registration Drive
Students are motivated to vote, but lack belief that their vote matters. Students want their voice to be heard, and the majority know the importance of youth turnout. Nearly three quarters of students say they are motivated to vote. But when asked if their vote had the power to make change, only about half of students thought so. It is this lack of faith that their vote matters, students say, that stops some from casting a ballot entirely.
So we teamed up with a national non-partisan organization, The Civic Center. The Civics Center is dedicated to building the foundations of youth civic engagement and voter participation in high schools through education, organizing, and advocacy. We support student-led, peer-to-peer Voter Registration in high schools. The Civics Center provided props and posters to assist our registration efforts.
In October, JCG once again joined with Junior Achievement & the Cincinnati Museum Center to teach students about the mindset and skills needed by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. These students will learn to apply design thinking and develop a mindset that enables opportunity identification, innovation, value creation, and problem solving. Students will design their own innovations and have an opportunity to present their ideas to an impartial audience for constructive critique.
Develop skills as innovators
Form teams to develop a unique innovation
Create a presentation outlining their idea
Present innovations at the Cincinnati Museum Center
We’ll return to the Museum Center in February, to present our finished prototypes to the JA judges. Wish us luck!
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (LDC)
On November 4th,JCG’s Judith MooreTucker Leadership Development Conference was hosted by the JCG students of North College Hill High School.
Students from the Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates chapters compete for citywide officer roles. Students demonstrate their leadership and passion.
The Annual event, brings together all the newly elected city-wide officers for the Cincinnati Career Association (CCA) to strategize and develop activities for their respective schools.
This student-run component of JCG has five goals: Leadership Development, Career Preparation, Civic Awareness, Social Awareness, and Community / Service Learning. A plan of work developed for each of the five goals. This cohort of students drive city-wide CCA goals and activities across all programs. Over 60 students from ourninepartnerschoolsparticipateinthe LDCworkshops.
At the beginning of the school year, I was gifted this beautiful painting by the very talented, Samantha Murry-Shakur. After graduation, she was accepted to attend the one of the most prestigious design, architecture, art, and planning school in the world, University of Cincinnati - DAAP.
What a wonderful surprise; brought me to tears. I thought I'd put it up in my classroom for the remainder of the year for all to see & enjoy with me. Worried that it would get broken or damaged, Ibrought ithomeandhungitinaplacewhereIwould see it everymorning, as Iemerge frommy bedroomfor the day.
I will keep it as a humble trophy and grateful reminder of my good fortuneto beabletoserve today's studentsandtomorrow's leaders,asthey,likeSamantha,navigatetheirpathtothefuture! Thank you, Samantha!
RALLY CHAMPS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
After assisting Rally Champs with a leg-up” to recruit a meaningful number of students, about a dozen students met with the volunteer mentors who will provide services for these students.
TheRallyChamps youth mentoringprogram, organized bythe Preston Brown Foundation, matches students with caring adults who will develop positive relationships.
WCPO came out to report on the 1st meeting, held in the JCG classroom during the initial event. Since that time, NCH students have met with the mentoring program to match partners. Several future meetings have been planned.
