Cultivating the Life of a Youth (CLAY), a Memphis-based nonprofit organization working to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to minority youth, recently announced it has partnered with the Memphis Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for potential career opportunities. Those who complete the CLAY curriculum will have the opportunity to interview for a full-time electrical position within the company.
CLAY was created to reduce youth crime and imprisonment by training them for service jobs or corporate internships – with an added focus on entrepreneurship and supplying trained labor to businesses in need. The partnership with Memphis Electrical JATC aligns with that call to action by providing program graduates with an above-average paying career with extensive training and good benefits.
“Memphis is facing a multitude of challenges fueled by violence, neighborhood decay, and drugs. This is a unique, economically driven response,” said CLAY and BuyingDiverse.com Founder Greg Winston. “We seek to help minority youth become the person they see in their dreams and realize their potential.”
CLAY was founded upon the idea that once economic development is initiated, it replaces crime in thoughts and actions. As such, the mission of the organization is to empower young Memphians from all walks of life. The process consists of three stages: training, monthly engagement with participants and their parents, and apprenticeship programs.
“History has shown us that when a city has a productive workforce, crime is reduced,” said Clovis Brown, Memphis Electrical Training Director. “We’re thrilled to partner with CLAY and provide opportunities for high-quality training for people who are seeking support starting a new career.”
Parents and families who are interested in learning more about how youth can benefit from program participation should contact info@clayinc.org.
This article originally appeared on StoryBoard Memphis.