SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $1 MILLION COMING TO NUBIAN DIRECTIONS II TO PREPARE POUGHKEEPSIE YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS FOR WORKFORCE
$1.1 Million Will Provide Education and Training to Teach Workforce Skills
Through Focus in Technology Training, Nubian Directions II Aims to Develop Work Readiness for Jobs of Future
Schumer: Effort Will Train Students For Good-Paying Jobs and Give Poughkeepsie Youth and Young Adults Tools They Need to Succeed
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer announced that the Nubian Directions II (NDI) in Poughkeepsie has been awarded a $1,100,000 Department of Labor (DOL) grant, as part of the Department's Youthbuild program which aims to assist outofschool youth in obtaining academic and occupational skills and training. At Nubian Directions II, this training includes lessons in technology training, work readiness skills and educational support services for youth and adults to enhance workforce skills. Through the support of Youthbuild, Nubian Directions aims to help Poughkeepsie residents achieve economic selfsufficiency, through occupations that are both in high demand, and meaningful to the community.
"In these economic times, support for worker education that leads to employment is a top priority," said Schumer. "This effort divides time between construction sites, computers and the classroom to get our young people ready to join the workforce. There are few things more valuable than teaching the skills that directly prepares young people to be active, accomplished and successful members of the workforce. Training and service opportunities like the ones that will be provided at Nubian Directions II through these YouthBuild Grants are of the utmost importance in building strong communities, a strong economy and a strong workforce."
Nubian Directions II was founded in 1994, and is a notforprofit communitybased agency for the purpose of developing high quality workforce skills for youth and adults. The NDI mission is to provide technology training, work readiness skills and educational support services for youth and adults to enhance workforce skills. NDI is known for its community development activities in the City of Poughkeepsie. For instance, since 1995 NDI has provided yearround basic, intermediate and advanced computer training and access to the Internet for youths, adults and small business owners in Poughkeepsie.
The Department of Labor administers YouthBuild, which aims to provide outofschool youth and young adults with education, counseling and job skills in their 273 programs throughout the United States. YouthBuild provides job training and educational opportunities for atrisk youth ages 1624 while tapping into their energies and talents to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing for lowincome or homeless families in their own neighborhoods. These youths split their time between the construction site and the classroom, where they earn their GED or high school diploma, learn to be community leaders and prepare for college and other postsecondary training opportunities. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as a mentoring, followup education, employment, personal counseling services and participation in community service and civic engagement-all provided with the end goal of nurturing the highdemand occupational skills needed to succeed in today's global economy.
Nubian Directions II in Poughkeepsie is awarded this grant following a competitive application process held by the Labor Department in Fall 2010. Nubian Directions II is one of 74 grantees in this round of awards in the Youthbuild program.
