In this tight job market, teenagers often find themselves left out of the employment pool. But thanks to Goodwill, more than 150 Nashville area youngsters will work and learn employment skills this summer that will help launch them on the road to lifetime success.
The Training Retail Associates Certification (TRAC) interactive program is geared towards teens aged 14-18 who will learn job readiness skills, how to budget their money, maintain their finances, and how the choices they make today could impact them throughout their lives. The participants will meet with employers at various job sites to discuss on-the-job expectations, working with coworkers from various cultures and other issues that they may face at in the workplace. There are two four-week TRAC program sessions this summer and almost 50 teenagers will take part in the program. The first begins Monday, June 7 and the second will run from July 6-30. When students graduate from the TRAC program they will receive a $100 stipend from Goodwill. All TRAC classes will be held at Goodwill’s corporate offices in Nashville.
In a second work program sponsored by Goodwill, 94 students in Davidson County will work at area businesses including the Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza, Kroger stores and in various Goodwill retail, donations and corporate jobs. The students will work Monday through Friday and will be supervised by 23 Goodwill job coaches to assure the students meet their employer’s expectations. To be eligible for the work program the teens must have a disability, be disadvantaged, come from a low-income household or be a teen parent. Goodwill is also supervising several other students who will be working in locations throughout Rutherford and Montgomery counties.
For the 19th consecutive year, Goodwill’s recreational and socialization Summer Integration Program will be held in conjunction with Metro Parks. 52 Youngsters ages 6-15 who have been diagnosed with Autism will be integrated into several summer camps with other campers who do not have Autism and will be under the supervision of 17 Goodwill assistants. The children will take part in all activities and may also work on their individual educational plan goals with counselors. The program will take place at seven Metro Nashville parks.
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