The Charleston Job Corps Center (CJCC) operated by Horizons Youth Services (HYS), hosted a center wide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the center gymnasium. The Recreation Department sponsored the program under the direction of James Carter, Leisure Time Learning Coordinator. Tia Welch, Business Community Liaison served as the moderator. The Occasion was read by Francis Shearin, Career Counselor. Students Ameir Lewis and Alonzo Hall read poems regarding keeping the dream alive.

The center’s keynote speaker was Rev. James Ealy, New Life Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and Charleston City Council member. Ealy gave three main points for the attendees to remember. He said, “Number 1: Freedom is not free. Someone has to pay a price for it. Number 2: Knowledge is not wisdom. I congratulate you for coming to Job Corps to use your knowledge to get wisdom and Number 3) The future is now. Look around you, the next person to take us to where we need to be can be sitting here right now.” He challenged students to do something positive and make a contribution to their neighborhoods and society.

Center Director, Willie Brown, provided closing remarks by reading an excerpt from Dr. King’s “I have dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.Mr. Brown encouraged students to stay focused and finish their career technical trades for future success.

CJCC Panther Pride Ensemble provided musical entertainment under the direction of James Carter.

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16-24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. The Charleston Job Corps Center is overseen by the Philadelphia Regional Office of Job Corps and is operated by Horizons Youth Services.