Young adults who are in the custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) are investing in their futures by taking advantage of vocational training and certification opportunities offered by Greater West Town Project (GWTP). In mid-October, three members of the inaugural cohort of IDJJ youth completed the National Safety Council’s forklift operator training, earning three-year certifications that also include a ten-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification. The program graduates also completed a career exploration course, basic computer training, and a digital literacy course during their 12-week program. Approximately 25 IDJJ staff members and a dozen representatives from GWTP, along with several family members of youth graduates, gathered at Greater West Town Academy on October 23 to celebrate the cohort’s achievements and present certificates and words of encouragement. As part of the new partnership with IDJJ, Greater West Town Project will be offering subsequent opportunities to upcoming cohorts in their shipping and receiving program. The program prepares trainees with a broad base of skills needed to be highly qualified for entry-level employment in positions such as a shipping & receiving clerk, forklift operator, warehouse associate, material handler, traffic agent, stocker, order picker, or dock worker. The next cohort begins in January of 2024.
