Education and Employment Program: Laying a Foundation for Independence and Success

“Our responsibility is to evoke hope, and to guide students in exploring and pursuing their dreams,” says Jeff Romero, Urban Peak’s Education and Employment Supervisor, regarding the role of the department. “Education leading to employment is the foundation for helping our youth become independent.”

Romero brings to Urban Peak more than 15 years of experience in guiding adolescents and young adults through developing life skills and reaching higher goals. He has built an outstanding team of counselors and teachers in the Education and Employment department of Urban Peak.

Of his team, Romero says, “Throughout my career I have been fortunate to be a part of teams that have led in the effectiveness of their work. The E and E team at Urban Peak is the best team I’ve been a part of. Wise beyond their years, passionate, and thorough, they are phenomenal people and consistently exceed my expectations.”

Urban Peak provides a continuum of education services for youth who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless. Through funding from the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program, and in partnership with Denver Public Schools and the Community College of Denver, Urban Peak offers GED prep and testing at both the shelter and the downtown campus. UP helps young people re-enroll in public high school through a partnership with Colorado Youth for a Change. Math Literacy classes are offered through the Math Literacy Project to individuals and groups who need to focus attention on this particular area. We are also constantly expanding our College Connection services to better help our youth enroll in higher education.

Moreover, the reenergized Job Readiness Training (JRT) offered through the Education and Employment department has become a hallmark program within the organization. Stressing the importance of punctuality, attentiveness and work quality, JRT seeks to give youth a solid foundation to prepare them to enter any job, in any career field.

“The majority of these young people have not been in a structured environment for months or years, if ever,” says Romero. “They may find a job, but it doesn’t necessarily lead to retention or especially to a career. We always ask, ‘How can we support you?’ JRT is one way we help youth to be better prepared.”

Job Readiness Training is a 28-day process which begins with individual, in-depth career exploration. Youth answer a series of questions in order to discover their personal interests and how they match with certain career clusters. Then, with the help of Urban Peak Employment Counselors, they research opportunities within these clusters. The training features multiple intelligence activities designed to identify the particular learning style of each youth. Youth participate in “soft-skills” training – goal setting, communication skills, phone etiquette, and conflict resolution. The next steps include resume writing, interview skills, developing better computer skills, and building a portfolio. Youth may also find Math/Financial Literacy workshops offered through the program necessary, or wish to enroll in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) which makes them eligible for the Business & Technology Academy through our partner YouthBiz. Still others may consider enrolling in higher education as part of their career path and the counselors help facilitate this through our many college connections.

The entire process is done in tandem with other Urban Peak programs to make sure youth have their basic needs taken care of. Logistics like having their ID, a childcare plan, appropriate interview clothing, or a phone number for employer contact are critical to successfully moving forward. The vast majority of youth participating in the Education and Employment program are also involved in other services through Urban Peak, including shelter, drop-in center, case management, health and medical, and/or housing.

All this work culminates in a celebration or reward for the effort of our youth. Those graduating from JRT receive a certificate of completion and every attempt is made to connect them with employment either through one of our great corporate partners or otherwise.

On July 9, more than 50 young people will graduate with their GED at a ceremony to be held at the Tivoli Center Turnhalle at 6pm. The keynote speaker will be Michael Valentine, Esq. The Psi Beta National Honor Society in Psychology at Community College of Denver has sponsored the event center. This event will also include a college fair beginning at 5pm, which will connect graduates with several of our higher education partners.

SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH OUR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (and in partnership with other organizations)

GED Training and Testing (Denver Public Schools)
High School Re-enrollment (Colorado Youth for a Change)
Math and Financial Literacy (Math Literacy Project)
College Connection
Lexia Learning Reading
Job Readiness Training
Career Exploration
Resume Writing
Portfolio Building
Interview Skills
Communication
Phone Etiquette
Computer Skills
Conflict Resolution
Goal Setting
Life Skills
Business Academy (YouthBiz)
Job Placement