Story and photos
by CALEB H. SWALLOWS
Puxico Press
Approximately 50 community members joined June 14 to learn about and discuss the state of the Mingo Job Corps. Matters regarding student attendance, student job searching, and finances of the facility were discussed throughout the course of the meeting.
After the community members were served a meal provided by the Mingo Job Corps staff and student workers, the center director Lawrence Ferrell started off the meeting introducing administrative officer Stacy Griffin, whom led the discussion regarding information about the state of funding and facility needs.
"The government has placed a hiring freeze put on all federal organization recently which is keeping us from hiring full time positions, but we are allowed to hire individuals for temporary positions until the freeze is lifted." Griffin explained. "Nursing, teaching, and residential specialist positions are currently open as temporary positions."
Griffin then explained that funding is low but upgrades have been slowly happening throughout the facility.
"Overall, we are fairly low on funding but we have been able to make upgrades to some of the areas across our campus." Griffin said. "We were able to upgrade some of our social areas for students and make some needed changes."
Once Griffin finished, she then introduced Pam Denkins, principal of the Mingo Job Corps. Denkins spoke on the recent upgrade of computers for student use received from another Job Corps located in Illinois that had recently shut down.
Instructor Buddy Clinton presented information pertaining to the new fire program being added to the facility which will give students more opportunities for jobs in the future. He then explained a characteristic the facility are trying to implement into their students.
"We are having students work a lot in the Puxico community. For instance, work being done at the Puxico cemetery." Clinton explained. "If we were to put the students work to the dollar, the would have already made about $300,000 since the beginning of this year and would reach $1 million by the end of the year. We want the students to learn that helping the community, whether receiving monetary compensation or not, is at the upmost importance."
Ferrell then closed the meeting with explaining how important the Mingo Job Corps is to those who need it most.
"We have the ability to help students get job opportunities that they'd never have and is so incredibly important." Ferrell said. "But, these students aren't just getting jobs, they are getting careers. Our students are starting careers at approximately $40,000 per year and using these jobs to make a living wage."
Mingo Job Corps will be having their next community relations meeting Thursday, Sept. 13. All members of the local community are invited to attend and participate in the facility's changes.