Laurel’s Woodland Job Corps Center in Jeopardy

By DAVE YANOVITZ For The Capital

President Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 initiative was a bold one that has turned into what is often considered the most successful social program in United States history.

Looking to combat growing poverty in the nation, Mr. Johnson instituted Job Corps, a vocational training program designed for teenagers and young adults ages 16-24 who have difficulty achieving in traditional learning environments.

Now in its fifth decade, with 122 training centers across the country, it is the longest-running, government-funded social program.

In addition to vocational training, Job Corps, which is run by the U.S. Department of Labor, offers GED and high school diploma programs.

Since 1987 the Woodland Job Corps Center, on Route 198 in Laurel near Fort George G. Meade, has been training area youth in a variety of vocations. And it has been helping them get high school diplomas.

But Woodland officials have been put on notice that, beginning July 1, the basic operations budget for the program nationwide could face a $127 million shortfall.

Depending on the severity of the cuts, the federal funding shortfall will equate to a loss of programs, teachers, student services and, in a worst-case scenario, a closing of the facility.

Woodland serves teens and young adults from Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore, Prince George’s, Frederick and Harford counties, as well as Baltimore City, according to Kevin Boston, Woodland’s community liaison manager.

The students reside at Job Corps dormitories during their training, which ranges from 10 to 24 months. Currently there are about 300 students at Woodland – about half are male, half female.

Woodland offers training in business technologies, carpentry, culinary arts, electrical, electronic systems, facilities maintenance, and health occupations. The students also complete 360 hours of work-based learning training with area employers, who often hire Job Corps graduates who show initiative and a good work ethic.

“We’re constantly reinforcing career success standards with our students, helping them to understand how important it is to have job skills and an education,” said Mr. Boston. “This is one of the most unique programs in the nation serving youth. We have an 80 to 85 percent success rate in terms of students’ goal education and employment job training.”

Woodland does not receive any county or state funding, said Mr. Boston, which makes the potential budget cuts particularly disconcerting to students and faculty alike.

Mr. Boston said he learned of the potential cuts at a policy forum in February. The cuts come from the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, and he urges Job Corps parents and other community members who see Job Corps as a vital program to contact committee members. U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Baltimore; Virginia Democrat James P. Moran, and Virginia Republican Frank R. Wolf are this region’s Appropriations Committee members.

Aleta Haynes has been a carpentry instructor at Woodland for eight years, and loves teaching her students a trade. She also appreciates the lessons and values that Job Corps instills in those who complete the program.

“They learn how to show up on time, they learn how to do quality work, they learn a love for a trade,” Ms. Haynes said during carpentry shop last week. “I tell them, if you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re not going to want to go to work in the morning.

“They call me (after they graduate), they’ve been calling for six years, saying they are so appreciative to learn the trade. I wouldn’t want to (work) anywhere else.”

Staining some wood outside the shop were Abigail Singer, 24; Cecily Gaston, 19, and Karen Cruz, 22. All are Job Corps carpentry students who enrolled within the past six months.

Ms. Cruz said she worked an office job for a year and a half, but “would rather do hands-on work.” Ms. Gaston’s uncle owns a construction company, and she has plans to work for him upon graduation.

“Job Corps helps you, because in the real world, you have to deal with a lot of different people,” said Ms. Cruz. “Here, you have to deal with a lot of different (personality types), too.”

Anthony Wilson, 23, of Gaithersburg, got his high school diploma, got a driver’s license and completed his trade certification at Woodland. He is the center’s student ambassador, going to different schools to talk about the benefits of Job Corps.

“Not only do you learn things academically, you learn lessons in life,” said Mr. Wilson. “It makes me smile to know that I’ve grown better as a person.”

Dave Yanovitz is a freelance writer living in Laurel.

(c) 2008 Capital (Annapolis). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.