Positioning young adults to realize their potential for a SUCCESSFUL FUTURE!
Value Proposition
We provide young adults ages 15 to 24 with a well-defined pathway to employment and financial stability through vocational training, workforce development, and industry certification.
With a focus on trauma-exposed youth from vulnerable communities, we meet individuals where they are and help them to navigate through the complexities of life and education. Our academy guides students directly into a career path that allows them to follow their passions and obtain sustainable employment. Through our work, we are eradicating the pipeline to violence, drugs, and prison.
Why Our Work is Crucial
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More than 25 percent of American young adults experience a serious traumatic event by age 16, experiences that often affect learning. (https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma16-4923_0.pdf
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70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people. (https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/).
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1 in 5 high school students was bullied at school: 1 in 6 experienced Cyberbullying. (Site Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: Division of Violence Protection (2014). Taking Action to Prevent Youth Violence: A Companion Guide to Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/pdf/opportunities-for-action-companion-guide.pdf)
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As a critical component to economic mobility and prosperity, there must be initiatives in place that promote resilience for trauma-exposed youth.
A Proactive Approach to Education
and Empowerment
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to engage and equip young adults ages 15 to 24 with the tools needed to eradicate poverty and unemployment ultimately leading them to economic self-sufficiency, self-employment, and success
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Vision Statement:
Infinite opportunities for young adults to be confident and successful while communities flourish from their contributions.
Our Programs
The Jennings O’Neil Career Academy partners with parents, schools, social service organizations, and detention centers to proactively provide early access to workforce skills. By exposing students to opportunities in the trades sector and engaging them in accelerated hands-on instruction, we are improving their ability to push beyond the confines of trauma exposure, limited educational opportunities, and the cycle of generational poverty. Through our programs, students enter into a new realm of possibility.
Our current in-demand career trainings include:
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Certified Fiber Optics (On-site training)
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Pre-apprenticeship Fiber Optics
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Culinary Arts & Hospitality
Future in-demand career trainings include:
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Computer Science & Multimedia
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Cybersecurity in Banking
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Facility Maintenance
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Natural Hair Care
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Barbering I & II (coming Winter 2025)
To learn more about each program tap the button below.
Our Impact
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We have delivered over 15,360 hours of high-quality instruction to students considered at-risk.
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We have partnered with over 22 schools, social service agencies, and peer organizations to engage youth and young adults in career technical education programs.
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We have expanded our career technical education program offerings by 400% with the addition of 4 new pathways.
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We have served over 512 youth and young adults either enrolling them in a JOCA program or exposing them to CTE career paths they would not have otherwise had knowledge of or access to.
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Over 92% of our students successfully complete their JOCA pathway or program of study.