Headwaters Charitable Trust and the North Central Workforce Investment Board Tuesday announced the launch of Summer Works, a life skills training program that kicks off June 27 in Elk County. 

Summer Works is an eight-week program designed to help young adults obtain green employment and skills in order to stimulate personal and professional growth. 

Summer Works is a program under Headwaters’ Living Greener Project, which is a holistic program designed to assist individuals in finding and maintaining employment in the green collar workforce.

Participants will be connected to life skills training sessions, green jobs, mentorship support, and referrals to additional services as needed.

Volunteers are imperative in order for this program to be a success.

Life Skills Trainers are needed to train Summer Works participants in topics ranging from workforce preparation to personal finances. 

Mentors are also needed to guide participants as they graduate from the Summer Works program and move into full-time green collar employment as a Living Greener participant.

During Summer works, trainers will host life skills classes in one of eight topics that will help participants transition into full-time employment.

Headwaters is looking for trainers who are passionate about this cause, acquainted with the curriculum, and offer interactive education methods for participants.

Mentors are needed in August to provide one-on-one support to participants. Mentors will be matched with a participant and will be in regular contact with their mentee to ensure a successful transition into the workforce by offering guidance and support.

Mentors should be passionate about this cause, and willing to give honest and constructive feedback to both participants and Living Greener Staff. 

Living Greener is not your typical job training program.  It is a holistically-centered approach to developing skills that enable our young people to be successful in life; not only the workplace.

Overall, this program provides increased opportunities for participants to gain insight and appreciation into the region’s careers and major industries including manufacturing, powder metal, healthcare, lumber and wood, water quality, and entrepreneurship, while promoting awareness of our abundant natural resources.

If you are interested in learning more about Summer Works, Living Greener, or volunteer opportunities, visit the Headwaters Charitable Trust website or contact Bri Pursley at 814-335-1141 or send email to: bripursley@hwct.org.

6/20/2016