Excel Academy’s summer vocational students have already accomplished a lot during their first two weeks of employment. Three work crews are completing various lawn, landscaping, maintenance and painting jobs throughout the Newark and surrounding area.

The program description is modeled after Douglas Community Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Excel Academy’s twelve youth workers are providing free services to county senior citizens and individuals in need. The youth are developing vocational skills and addressing barriers to employment through the classroom component. Each youth participant will complete a program that teaches the value of customer service “Through the Customer’s Eye”. Each unit requires watching a video, reading materials and passing a test to move to the next lesson. Bobbi Tucker, Excel Academy Teacher, has taken the students to Park National Bank to open savings accounts and is working with them to create budgets and spending plans. Natasha, 17 year old program participant, is contemplating the purchase of a used mountain bike to make the commute to work easier on hot days.

A qualitative outcome of the program is the relationships that are being developed between the participants and community citizens and non-profit community organizations. One relationship that is off to a great start is with Frankie. She received information from the Licking County Aging Program and contacted Excel about her landscaping needs. On the satisfaction report from Frankie she stated that “my yard and flowerbeds haven’t looked this nice for years and years since I was able to do it myself. I can’t thank the kids enough.”

Wilson Garden Center donated multiple flats of flowers and South Fork Lawn and Landscaping has donated mulch for the landscaping projects. Casey Shaffer, Licking Co. Coalition for Housing stated: “The properties look great and then asked would you be interested in some additional jobs?”

Individuals that are interested in Excel Academy’s youth vocational services should contact Excel Academy by calling Mary Thompson at (740) 323-1102 ext. 28 between 7:30AM to 4PM Monday through Friday or e-mail methompson@laca.org.