Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success 

Job Readiness for Youth is Essential to helping 
"Develop Leaders for Tomorrow"

Progressive continues to stay up to date on issues that relate to the youth in the communities we serve and Virginia at large.  Statistics show that in 2012, Virginia's juvenile arrest rate for violent crime was 76 per 100,000 people aged 10-17.  Through our continuous efforts to serve the community, we have observed that at the current date, much of these crimes remain consistent.

In an effort to help our youth here in Petersburg, Hopewell and surrounding cities, we started a 10 week recurring Job Readiness program for youth. This program will be held 1x per week during the hours in which high crime occurs (between 5:00pm-8:00pm).    

Contact us today to make your referral! We thank you in advance. 

"Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together."  -Paul Ryan

Our Job Readiness program will be using the  "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success, a curriculum developed by ODEP from the US Department of Labor. This curriculum is focused on teaching "soft" or workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities. The curriculum is targeted for youth ages 14 to 21 in both in-school and out-of-school environments. The basic structure of the program is comprised of modular, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.

The youth is the hope of our future. -Jose Rizal

Participants will benefit from increasing in other areas such as enhancing interviewing skills and learning professional attire Do’s and Don’ts in the workplace.  Participants will benefit from obtaining knowledge from professionals in various fields of work and potentially building positive professional relationships.  Participants will be assigned to case managers that will assist them with attempting to gain employment upon their graduation from our program.  All Participants will receive a certificate upon completion/ graduation of the program.

To accommodate the families we serve, transportation will be provided to all individuals of the program and Participants will be provided one meal.  Meals will be provided from local restaurants and served prior to the start of class.