JACKSON – The Minority Male Leadership Initiative (M2M) at ² organized an economic empowerment workshop April 1 to assist students with their employment efforts.
“We highlighted some of the economic opportunity services offered by ² that students might not have known about during this time of continued economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic,” said Ahmad Smith, recruitment and outreach coordinator with the program.
Services represented at the come-and-go workshop included the WIN Job Centers administered by the college, apprenticeships and internships available via career-tech programs of study such as Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance and Diesel Equipment Technology and the college’s Small Business Development Center.
“Everyone needs to start somewhere,” said Isaiah Hightower, of Ridgeland, who is studying Engineering Drafting & Design Technology. “We all have this information available to us and we need to start using it.”
Smith said 56 students attended the event, which occurred under COVID-19 protocols at the Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center.
“I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of our students,” said Jim Harper, director of the college’s Small Business Development Center. “Their questions for the center were in such detail that we have scheduled more time to meet with them. We will dive deeper into their questions of questions and the subject of entrepreneurism, since some had started a business and others had ideas that needed to be expanded.”
Students also learned about internships, apprenticeships and various career opportunities as a result of the college’s partnerships with industry.
“We also discussed the ² Career Services Center that assists with resumes and interviewing skills, as well as hosts College Central Network, which is an online job board where students and alumni can apply for employment opportunities,” said Josh Bower, director of Talent, Workforce & Economic Development for the college.
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Ahmad Smith, left, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator of the Minority Male Leadership Initiative (M2M), directs students Isiah Hightower, left, of Ridgeland, and Michael Mitchell, of Jackson. Hightower is studying Drafting and Design. Mitchell is studying Business Administration.
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Shania Gross, right, of Brandon, speaks with Linda Taylor, Jackson WIN Job Center WIOA Career Services Coach. Gross plans to study Culinary Arts.
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From left, Linda Taylor, Jackson WIN Job Center WIOA Career Services Coach; Chtina Black, Jackson WIN Job Center WIOA Program Director; and Latrisa Ward, Employment Interviewer with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security speak with ² students Latitia Woods, of Grenada, right, and Leslie Carter, of Jackson.
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Isiah Hightower, of Ridgeland, and Latitia Woods, of Grenada, speak with Jim Harper, Director of HCC Mississippi Small Business Development Center. Hightower is studing Drafting and Design. Woods is studying Business.
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Tarrence Ricks, of Jackson, a ² speaks with Josh Bower, director of Talent, Workforce & Economic Development. Ricks is studying Logistics.
