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November 25, 2004

A winning strategy

Social planners are searching for the philosopher’s stone that will change under-achieving urban youth into highly motivated, productive members of society. At a recent luncheon meeting sponsored by “Year Up,” a highly successful youth training program, those present tried to discover the secret.

In many ways Year Up has already discovered part of the answer. This program, which was founded in 2000, has already moved more than 200 urban young adults, ages 18-24, into decent paying jobs. Year Up’s formula is very simple.

Those in the age range who have high school diplomas or GED certificates are recruited for a year-long program. For the first six months they receive technical and professional training. Then they are placed in six-month paid apprenticeships with major corporate partners. Those who succeed are then offered permanent employment at salaries which average $14 per hour.

An added incentive is that those students who complete the program are enrolled in Cambridge College where their training courses count for college credit. Also, enrollees receive a stipend while attending the first six months of training. Their stipend is docked for unexcused absence or tardiness.

Year Up has an extraordinary success rate. Student retention is 86 percent, 90 percent of students successfully complete internships, 85 percent get jobs and 65 percent enroll in college. In addition, Year Up is cost effective. It costs $11,000 per student per year and interns are paid by employers at the rate of $14,000 per year.

Gerald Chertavian, the founder and executive director of Year Up, sees great potential for expanding the program. In fact, the program can grow as fast as there are corporate partners with employment possibilities and urban youth with the discipline and desire to move ahead.

With a dropout rate of only 14 percent, Chertavian has clearly developed a success strategy far superior to other similar programs. However, much rests on the effectiveness of Year Up’s screening system. Chertavian seems to be concerned about the elusive philosopher’s stone that will so transform the lives of urban youth that many more will easily pass the Year Up screening.

As anticipated by many, the secret of the philosopher’s stone remains elusive. Participants in the luncheon offered many suggestions about appearance, punctuality, proper speech and courteousness as necessary to success in the business world. Missing was how young adults from urban low-income families might be motivated to reach out on their own to move up the professional ladder.

While the Banner does not purport to have the answer, it might be appropriate to point out a strategy of the black leadership which might have the unintended consequence of depressing the achievement of black youth.

During the civil rights movement, it was necessary to point out repeatedly the abuses of white society. Unfortunately, this created an illusion of powerlessness in the black community. There were some who believed it was all right to give up because whites were always going to prevent blacks from succeeding.

What is needed now is a call for African Americans to stop worrying about whites and to step up and excel as a matter of ethnic pride and responsibility. Black youth must understand that progress requires discipline and commitment. Success is possible if you make the effort.

 

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