Southeast Regional Emerging Opportunities Summit Addresses Economic Stability

Four Memphis Job Corps beneficiaries with Christopher Taylor, Region IV, Deputy Regional Administrator.

Willie Taylor, US Department of Labor, Region IV Administrator addressing summit participants about Job Corps.

Over seventy-five public housing authorities, alternative education organizations, Section 3 businesses, multifamily owners, housing management companies, homeless service providers, state children services and CDBG recipients in the Memphis MSA and adjoining states gathered earlier this month to participate in the first U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Labor's (HUD - DOL) Southeast Regional Emerging Opportunities Summit. The summit conducted in the City of Memphis' City Council Chamber brought together key community stakeholders to identify and discuss innovative ways to address access to quality housing and economic stability for those they mutually serve.

The event kicked off with a welcome from HUD Region IV Deputy Regional Administrator, Chris Taylor, and DOL Regional Director, Willie Taylor, Office of Job Corps (https://www.jobcorps.gov/), Atlanta Region. Sessions included presentations on Job Corps and HUD's Section 3 program and was highlighted by a panel discussion of current Job Corps participants discussing their experiences and how Job Corps is helping them reach their career goals and improving their life.

"The efforts today on the part HUD, DOL - Job Corps and stakeholders is making a difference in helping bridge the economic divide of despair towards a vision of hope and self-sufficiency tomorrow for those in need," said Chris Taylor. "We are looking forward to building on the momentum and lessons learned as we continue this very worthwhile effort throughout the Southeast."

"The Summit is another platform to demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration at the federal level," said Willie Taylor. "The goal of this engagement is to make individuals aware of the opportunities to enhance their employability skills. Our objective is to capture this through a series of public/private partnerships that will accrue long-term career pathways benefits."

The U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Labor provided the impetus for conducting the summit and was developed from the apparent need to increase awareness on the part of program beneficiaries' understanding concerning the benefits of Section 3 and how to assist beneficiaries advance themselves or family members toward self-sufficiency.

The Department of Labor Job Corps program through a nationwide network of 126 campuses offers a comprehensive array of free career development services to women and men ages 16 to 24, to prepare them for success. The Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Memphis Job Corps Center offers free hands-on career technical training as well as academic training that includes GED or high school diploma service and career planning, on-the-job training, job placement, residential housing, food service, driver's education, health and dental care, a bi-weekly basic living and clothing allowances. Additionally, the center has cooperative agreements with area community colleges or related institutions to teach career area courses or to have individual students take courses to gain college credit and help with the transition into college programs when appropriate.

Those interested in learning more about the Job Corps career opportunities, may call (800) 733-JOBS, (800) 733-5627, or visit the Recruiting Website (https://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/), which is also available in Spanish (Español) (https://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/Home/Index). When calling, an operator will provide general information about Job Corps and or refer those interested in possibly enrolling to the admissions counselor closest to where they live.

###