Corp curriculum

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In only the second emergency medical technician program offered at the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute, Nathaniel Drayton practiced CPR on an infant CPR dummy last week. The 18-year-old, who heard about the program from his sister, wanted to help people by becoming an EMT.

"I wasn’t really doing anything with my life, so I needed a change," the resident of Seventh and Sigel streets said of his decision to enroll after dropping out of Southern in September.

Job Corps students learn various EMT tasks, including medical skills, trauma and baby delivery, instructor Ken Davis said. After the first class finished at the center, 17 of the 19 enrolled passed the state exam to become certified.

"Some of them had jobs prior to the testing, so we’re pretty proud of that," Davis said.

Currently gearing up for the state test July 11, Drayton plans to finish classes required for a high school diploma and start his career. Once he gets more experience, he will enroll in paramedic school, he said.

"I’m going to learn a lot about saving lives. It’s showing me how to do better — become a better man," he said of Job Corps.

With the city’s dropout rate higher than 40 percent and March’s city unemployment rate hovering at 9.7 percent, Job Corps, which recently and belatedly celebrated its grand opening at 2810 S. 20th St. earlier this month, works to alleviate both with job-related training and high school diploma or GED courses. Job Corps wants to dispel word-of-mouth rumors that have given it a bad reputation, Gail Anderson, spokeswoman for the center that offers an alternative form of education for students, said.

"Job Corps has this stereotype that all the bad kids come here and that’s not true," she said.

Even though academic classes are offered, the focus is on career preparation typically in a year or two, as well as job placement, although some complete more than one program, Anderson said.

"We are a training facility, not a school," she said.

Sasha Harvey, 18 and a recent Southern graduate, heard about the nursing assistant program.

"I just always wanted to help people," the resident of 21st and Fernon streets said.

She is set to complete the program in September when she passes state exams. She then plans to attend college for nursing. Harvey will start her studies at Community College of Philadelphia, which Job Corps helps with what financial aid does not cover.

"This is their beginning stepping stone," Josephine Velez, a nurse and instructor at the center, said. "If patient care is not what they want, this is the backbone in every health-related field."

Practicing CPR is one of the many tasks Nathaniel Drayton, of Seventh and Sigel streets, will be tested on in July in his quest to become a certified EMT after completing the program and obtaining his diplomas through Job Corps (Photo by Steve Langdon).

President Lyndon B. Johnson established Job Corps in 1964 to serve as a residential, educational and vocational program for at-risk youths ages 16 to 24. To qualify, students should be a single parent; lack skills; be a high school dropout; or have been deemed low income, but each student is judged on a case-by-case basis, Anderson said.

The Philadelphia location, which currently serves 355 students, is one of more than 120 nationwide and also one of the few that is not a residential center. It moved from its West Philadelphia location of 20 years and first location in the city to a more spacious building in South Philly almost a year ago. While South Philly residents utilized the previous spot, the numbers of local participants are increasing with its new proximity, Anderson said.

"It provides exposure for others to have a greater access that they may not have had in times past," she said of the new location.

But with seven programs and demand growing, the center aims to find a fit for each student even if it’s at nearby locations in Drums, Lopez, Pittsburgh or Wilmington, Del.

"I’m really believing and hoping there will be standing-room only, a waiting list for the program," Anderson said of the center’s outreach that includes passing out flyers in the area.

The center, which was built on an empty lot, celebrated its overdue grand opening with former students full of praise and politicians, such as state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, on hand in addition to music by the GAMP Choir, Anderson said.

"We needed to be able to be settled here, so we could introduce ourselves to the community and partner with the community," Anderson said of the delayed celebration.

Not only does the federally funded program provide each person with a high school education, if needed, and career-related guidance Monday through Friday, but books, clothes, SEPTA tokens or TransPasses, meals and other supplies come at no cost. Students also receive a bi-weekly stipend.

The center has a Student Government Association; a formal affair in July that is similar to a prom; and an Academic Olympics in August, where Job Corps students throughout the area compete at the South Philly location. The center is working on adding sports teams and a choir, Anderson said.

Antonio Holmes, of Eighth and Morris streets, serves lunch to his peers, which he and fellow dietary planner students prepared (Photo by Steve Langdon).

With a Monday morning business meeting to plan out the week, students feel like coming to Job Corps every day is their job. For Antonio Holmes, this center is not only empowering, but in his blood.

"Of course it seems like I was destined to come here," the 18-year-old, whose mother took part in the medical assistant program while his father enrolled in the dietary planner program, said.

Also in the dietary planner program, Holmes helps make lunch every day for his peers, as well as all the events at the center.

"I came to this program due to my lack of educational experience in public school," Holmes, who left Bartram High School in August to enroll in Job Corps, said. "This gives you a better idea of what you would do once you obtain a high school diploma or GED."

The culinary student will be judged and assessed by a graduate panel in August. Before opening up his own catering business, the Eighth-and-Morris resident plans to attend Community College of Philadelphia, where he will major in business.

"We are actually transforming lives one day at a time — actually one student at a time," Anderson said.