SIB Online Newsletter August 2008

Feature Education Section: Youth Mean Business

Youth Mean Business About Jobs & Skills

Angie and Robin receive their Certificate of Training and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit from Chattanooga State Technical Community College for successfully completing the AYES Youth In Business "Interpersonal Skills Development" class this summer.

"This is so needed! I remember going through this phase. I took a [personality] test. They told me I was creative and good luck. I wish I would have had some skills to go along with my interests. If they would have had AYES, they would have been able to point me in that direction."

Elizabeth Miller, WUTC Radio 88.1 FM, UTC, Chattanooga, TN

Students learn and practice proper keyboarding skills and basic formatting In AYES Youth in Business Computer Keyboarding class at Chattanooga State.

Youth mean business about skills and jobs, and so does the AYES Youth In Business Skills Training Certificate Program. Parents of youth seeking enrichment learning programs to enroll in this summer found the AYES Youth In Business curriculum full of skills and fun at Chattanooga State!

Tekelia Kelly, founder and designer of the program, is an adjunct faculty member at Chattanooga State where she also teaches computer classes for the college and continuing education programs. Ms. Kelly has designed the AYES curriculum to offer courses like Interpersonal Skills Development, Success Skills Toolkit for Teens, Computer Keyboarding, Microsoft Office Software Training, and more.

Tekelia Kelly, AYES Youth In Business Founder and Instructor, helps students during classroom activities at Chattanooga State.

Consistent with Ms. Kelly's track record as a teacher and trainer in both academic and corporate business settings, respectively, learners enrolled in the AYES Youth In Business Skills Training Certificate Program found classes full of helpful instruction and exciting! Students in each class gave high value ratings for instructor delivery, class content, class effectiveness, and overall satisfaction. Comments shared by some students are given below.

AYES Student Quotes

“This class helped me understand a lot dealing with job interviews and a resume. I wouldn’t change a thing, except to be able to be in it more and longer, because it was so fun!” -Robin H.

"I had a lot of fun! It was a great learning experience. I would love more classes like this. It helped me a lot. Thank you! Angie. B.

I told her that I was going to pick a class and she could pick a class. I chose AYES, and she thought it was going to be boring, but she's been telling me how "awesome" it is! Kristi D.

Thanks for taking your time to teach me how to type better. I love this class. It helped me a lot! Have a great summer! Love ya, -Shearyl.D

"AYES Youth In Business E-Learning Portal "

Kick-off of the AYES E-Learning Portal also enabled students to extend their learning beyond the classroom. Instructor-led material covered in class was also made available online to learners for practice at home. With simple email registration, students were able to continue learning and sharpen their skills even after class was over.

AYES (Alternative Youth Economic Solutions) exists to empower the socio-economic development, employment, and education needs of youth and young adults, and help bridge the transition from high school to go college, workforce, trade, or entrepreneurship. Offering projects and training that develop hands-on skills geared toward employers, AYES prepares students for job opportunities that offer sustainable income in the form of summer jobs, part-time and full-time work, internships, job shadowing, volunteer, and even entrepreneur opportunities.

The AYES program is designed to interface with employers, entrepreneurs, and entities hiring in the community, who realize the benefit of having skilled youth working in their workforce, and value hiring and inspiring youth through their business. "Through a collaborative effort, we can provide training, networking, mentoring, employment, and business services via the AYES program. This will offer a comprehensive and alternative approach for youth workforce development; one which offers experiential learning, hands-on skills, and transferable knowledge. This will benefit youth throughout their career and life…that’s A YES!", says Tekelia Kelly."

Job Bank, on-the-job training and shadowing, mentoring, employment assistance referrals, virtual coaching is all part of the "pass the baton" philosophy of the AYES program.