The Overtown Youth Center (OYC) hosted a Vocational Conference on Thursday, Sept. 27, focusing on youth workforce readiness and benefiting career seekers ages 16 and older.
Nearly 100 attendees from Miami youth-based organizations had a unique opportunity to meet with vocational experts and explore a variety of career path options. Representatives from 17 organizations were on hand for advice and insight on vocational training including AshBritt, Celebrity School of Beauty, Miami Fire Department, Miami Police, Concorde Career Institute, DA Dorsey Technical College, G.T. Baker Aviation Technical College, Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, Miami Dade College Fire Academy, Miami Dade College Medical Campus, Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Miami Dade Technical Colleges, Miami Lakes Educational Center, OIC of South Florida, Robert Morgan Educational Center, South Dade Technical College, and The English Center.
A broad array of career options were presented during the conference such as CDL driver, cosmetologist, dental assistant, electrician, EMT/Firefighter, heating and AC mechanic, aviation mechanic, law enforcement, medical assistant, nursing, pharmacy technician, and plumbing.
The event was sponsored by AshBritt, a local disaster recovery and environmental services firm. Speakers included Randy and Brittany Perkins of AshBritt and Magda Castineyra, director of Miami Dade College Honors College at International Campus. The Vocational Conference also featured an aviation-themed display from GT Baker Aviation Technical College.
The Overtown Youth Center promotes the tenets of empowerment, inspiration and enrichment in the lives of children and families. OYC focuses on providing comprehensive youth development services to students enrolled in elementary school through post-secondary education. In addition to academics, every student in the program partakes in the center’s enrichment programs (i.e. academics, dance, fitness, music, STEM, art, etc.). Since its inception in 2003, nearly 100 percent of OYC seniors have graduated from high school and pursued college, vocational programs or employment.
“For urban communities facing barriers to achieving college degrees and other barriers to sustainable employment, exposure and a commitment to increasing economic mobility through magnifying vocational options and assisting individuals every step of the way is how we will stabilize our families and buil stronger communities,” said Tina Brown.
For information contact Yance Torres by email at yance.torres@overtownyouth.org or 305-349-1204, Ext. 228.
Co-founded by real-estate developer Martin Z. Marguiles and NBA Hall-of-Famer Alonzo Mourning, OYC is a year-round youth development agency providing in-school, after school and summer programming; a parent enrichment program and post-high school support to over 400 youth and families in the Overtown neighborhood and surrounding areas. The agency offers a full range of services including educational enrichment, recreational activities, mentoring, literacy initiatives, performing arts, prevention and life skills/training for at-risk youth.
For more information, visit www.overtownyouth.org.
