Emily Stover DeRocco Speech
Hartford Job Corps Grand Opening
September 30, 2005
Hartford, CT
Thank you Joyce and good morning everyone. Thank you all for joining us this morning for the grand opening of the Hartford Job Corps Center. And a special thank you to Charles Richardson and the Edison Job Corps for bringing their wonderful choir here today.
As the Hartford Center opens its doors, it becomes the newest member of a program with a long and storied history.
The Job Corps program started in 1964 to help disadvantaged youth attain an education and job training, and to provide them with the skills they need to succeed, not only in the job market, but also in their personal lives.
In its 40 years of existence, Job Corps has achieved much success, training 65,000 youth each year in more than 100 different occupations at 122 centers across the nation. Close to 90% of our graduates find a job, or extend their career goals through higher education, the military, or Job Corps’ advanced training and scholarships.
While this 40 year record of success is admirable, it does not exempt Job Corps from the incredible changes happening across the world. We are now witnessing one of the great economic transformations in history. The twin revolutions of technology and information have ushered in the era we know as globalization. This era is marked by tremendous advances in communications, travel, and trade, allowing individuals instant access to commerce from almost anywhere in the world.
For the United States to meet this challenge and fill our role as leader of the global economy, we must have the best educated and prepared workers. And that means we must not rely on the systems and structures built to support our 20th century economy. Instead, we must transform them to meet the very different needs of today’s economy.
For Job Corps, this means that the educational foundation and skills training that we offer students must be improved. Today’s jobs require more than a basic education. They require stronger math, computer, and communication skills. They also require more specialized training. Employers no longer have the luxury of lengthy training programs for new recruits. Employees must add immediate value to a company and that can only happen if they possess a strong education and skill set.
To create a system that is truly valuable in today’s economy requires more than government efforts. We must partner with the businesses and industries that are driving economic growth in our regions and with the education institutions that offer specialized courses. And we must have the support of community leaders, fostering such partnerships and incorporating Job Corps Centers into the regional economy.
To all your great credit, Hartford is already a model for exactly this approach. It began over a decade ago with the vision to change an area of the city from housing projects into a real neighborhood adding value and culture to the city of Hartford.
Hundreds of individuals and organizations came together, providing the commitment and funding needed to transform a community and, with the leadership of Mayor Eddie Perez, Governor Jodi Rell and others, deliver a Job Corps Center to the city of Hartford.
Of course, creating the center was just the beginning. Regional employers and area schools were brought in to help design the curriculum and training programs to ensure that the skills students learn here will lead to jobs good and career pathways.
The commitment from area leaders, employers, community organizations, and your citizens to the Hartford Job Corps Center has established the foundation upon which thousands of young adults will start building successful lives and careers.
On behalf of President Bush and Labor Secretary Chao, I thank all of you for your hard work and congratulate you on this great accomplishment.
Now, we have special guests with us this morning: two members of the congressional Connecticut delegation, Congressman John Larson and Congresswoman Nancy Johnson. Please welcome Congresswoman Nancy Johnson.
Rep. Johnson Speaks
Thank you Congresswoman. It was great to see you and I appreciate you taking the time to join us this morning.
Now, please welcome the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor, Shaun Cashman.
Cashman speaks…….
Thank you Commissioner and please give Governor Rell my best.
Now joining us is a man whose commitment to education and community development has been demonstrated over a nearly 30 year career and whose leadership helped to make this center possible.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mayor Eddie Perez.
Mayor Perez speaks
Thank you, Mayor Perez, and I look forward to seeing the great success come from the Hartford Job Corps Center.
Mayor, if I could ask you to stay on stage and Commissioner Cashman and Director Jackson, please join us.
No opening ceremony is complete without the ribbon cutting and to help us today, we are joined by four of the first students at the Hartford Job Corps Center. Please welcome Shalonda Gusson, Javier Fuentes, Adriana Trice, and Rasheen Sharpe.
Mayor Perez, would you like to do the honors…
