Another Youth Success Story!
Sep 13, 2018
This time last year, A.L. Brown High School senior Cedric Ray, 18, was like many of his peers, trying to prepare for life after graduation.
During the last nine weeks of the school year, high school administrator Daryle Adams called a meeting with Ray and a few other students to introduce them to the NextGen services provided by the Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB).
Centralina WDB NextGen services assist youth and young adults with job skills and training focused on a career pathway. The initiative is a part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding which the Centralina WDB uses to offer career direction, counseling, guidance, training, and job placement for youth and young adults – the Next Generation of workers for our local employers.
During Ray's time working with Centralina WDB NextGen services, he heard about the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute, which he believed that would assist him with his career goals.
The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute (NCMI) is an 8-week initiative that offers individuals no-cost training and job placement assistance as a Certified Production Assistant and connects them with employment opportunities with over 45 partner employers in Cabarrus, Rowan, and Iredell counties. The NCMI is a partnership among local workforce and economic development organizations including the Centralina Workforce Development Board.
"It really gets your foot in the door and all you got to do is walk through the door," said Ray about NCMI. "So, it really helps you out," he added.
"Cedric grew up and matured over the years and last year it really clicked for him, he realized what he needed to do," said Adams.
On August 30, ten NCMI graduates including Cedric Ray received their diplomas, making them among the over 220 who have already graduated from the NC Manufacturing Institute.
Stan Honeycutt, an NCMI instructor said that he believes the NCMI training brought out Ray's strengthens and prepared him for his future.
Ray recently completed an On-the-Job training contract at S & D Coffee in Concord, provided through Centralina WDB NextGen services. Starting next week, he will begin working as a coffee packer for the company. Ray also plans to further his education one day to complete a business degree.
To learn more about how Centralina WDB and how our NextGen services can help young adults to find and achieve their career goals, please visit www.centralinaworkforce.com/nextgen.
For more information about the NC Manufacturing Institute, please visit www.ncmanufacturinginstitute.com/wordpress.
