A Ray of Sunshine at Youth One Stop: Unveiling the Power of Mentorship

We are delighted to share the ongoing success of our participants at Youth One Stop, and we owe this achievement to the steadfast support of our dedicated partners. It's hard to believe that six months have already passed since we renewed our partnership with BOCES ALI to offer in-person GED class sessions for our youth participants. This partnership was initially established to enhance the accessibility of continuing education for both youth and adults in our area. Following the relocation of BOCES ALI from Poughkeepsie to Salt Point Turnpike, many individuals faced transportation challenges in reaching the new location.

At Youth One Stop, our team is committed to finding innovative solutions to create opportunities for each of our participants. Consequently, we opened our doors to BOCES ALI, providing GED classes on Mondays through Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Given that our program primarily caters to at-risk youth, many of whom have one or more learning or physical disabilities, maintaining smaller class sizes has allowed our students to receive personalized attention and one-on-one assistance, fostering a thriving learning environment. Our collaboration with BOCES has exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled with the progress we've witnessed.
 
We are also pleased to welcome a few students from our former Next-Gen Summer Academy, which took place in August of this year. Among these students, Jaynique Allen, affectionately known as "Jay," has emerged as an exemplary role model. Jay not only excelled in our NG-Summer Academy program but also assumed leadership roles by mentoring her peers and leading her team's capstone project. Within a week of the program's conclusion, Jay eagerly sought the next opportunity and enrolled in our Youth One Stop Program to continue her self-development and career exploration.
 
Jay has now found her passion for teaching through Day One Early Learning Center's Teacher's Apprenticeship Program. It is worth noting that Jay has faced and conquered numerous obstacles, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. Her apprenticeship supervisor describes her as "a ray of sunshine at the center—smart, outgoing, lovable, child-friendly, and always eager to learn."
 
In all my years as a Youth Service Specialist, I have seldom witnessed a student achieve so much within just a few weeks in our program. Jay's journey serves as a testament to the power of positive mentorship and guidance, and we eagerly anticipate watching her, and many others like her, continue to thrive.
 
For more information on our Workforce Development Center Programs, please contact Marilyn Figueroa, Director of Workforce Development at mfigueroa@dcrcoc.org or 845-454-1700, Ext. 1042.