Dreams Do Come True: Graduation

Jobs For Youth Celebrates the Achievements of Its GED Graduates

CHICAGO, IL. (June 23, 2008) – It's what often times does not make headlines. Chicago's youth making a positive impact and making the unthinkable a reality - graduation.

On Tuesday, June 24th, Jobs For Youth (JFY) will recognize its twenty-nine GED graduates with a ceremony celebrating their achievements. Some of the graduates are the first to graduate high school or receive a GED in their family. Some, against all odds, persevered through homelessness, abuse and violence to obtain their GED.

One graduate is Phillip Avants, 24, from Chicago's Harold Icke Homes. "I didn't want to be another statistic; I wanted to be better. I was heading down a path where I was either going to jail or die," Avants says. Avants dropped out of Kenwood High School his sophomore year to go to work and support his family. He came to JFY in October 2007, entered the GED program, took his GED and entered JFY's 8-day pre-employment/life skills workshop. Upon graduating from the workshop, Avants worked for Macy's as a sales associate for the holiday season and is now doing stock at H&M.

"JFY believed in me. I didn't expect the small groups so I could actually learn. I would tell anyone out there who is my age, stop wasting your time. Go to JFY; it's free," Avants says, "Commit the time to do it. Anything is possible." Avants wants to attend Harold Washington in the fall and be an architect.

"We are so proud of our graduates. They are a true inspiration to all of the JFY staff and are why we continue to do the work we do everyday," says Robert Barnett, JFY Executive Director.

Fifteen graduates are expected to be recognized at the graduation ceremony. Graduation is Tuesday, June 24th from 11:00 a.m. - Noon with a reception immediately after. Graduation takes place at the Chicago Cultural Center in the Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 East Washington Street. Graduation is open to the public.

Thomas Gimbel, CEO of the LaSalle Network and JFY Board Member, will keynote.

About Jobs For Youth/Chicago, Inc.

Jobs For Youth/ Chicago, Inc. (JFY) helps young men and women from low-income families become a part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provides the business community with motivated job-ready workers. JFY offers pre-employment training, GED preparation and job placement services to youth that are between the ages of 17 and 24. Established in 1979, JFY has made over 25,000 job placement to help Chicago’s deserving youth enter the workforce. More information is available at www.jfychicago.org, including a short video about JFY programs and services.

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