iJAG is Excited to be a Partner with Opportunity Iowa

Has the recent buzz around Opportunity Iowa left you wanting to learn more on the movement and how to impact Iowans? iJAG hopes this is the case and we are here to help.

First, What is Opportunity Iowa?

Opportunity Iowa is a continuation of Opportunity Nation, a national coalition of non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, business leaders, leading thinkers and grassroots groups dedicated to a non-partisan agenda to enhance opportunity and economic mobility in America. In Iowa, the movement’s founding members in addition to iJAG are AARP, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, Character Counts in Iowa, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, DMACC and the United Way of Central Iowa.

What does this Movement want to accomplish?

How does Iowa stack up against the national standards?

Check out Opportunity Nation’s Opportunity Index to view how Iowa compares to overall opportunities for all Iowans: http://opportunityindex.org/#5.00/41.922/-93.312/-/Iowa .

Above provides What the movement is, Who is building the foundation and Why Iowa is involved but it is missing one additional component—YOU!!! Many ways to get involve exist for all community members dedicated to providing all citizens opportunities for success.

Check out www.opportunityiowa.org/ to learn more about the movement and its priority. Click the “Get Involved” button to view that ways across Iowa to impact.

Perry iJAG Students Impact "Willis Avenue Project"

Students are often considered our future voices but recently iJAG Students at Perry High School were today’s voice! The Community of Perry is currently looking at ways to utilize a green space area in the center of Perry. The students were grouped with their peers and asked to design a feature for a green space area that would be the best option for the community. Some of the students’ ideas presented in December presentations involved fitness, such as a skating rink, with ideas thrown out about possible places to add that feature to our town. Perry is a finalist in the Wellmark Blue Zone project, creating a strong link to the fitness features in the project.

Members of the local city council, the City Administrator, Chamber of Commerce Director, City Clerk, Town/Craft Community Planning and iJAG Program Manager Sarah Olson were asked to come and judge the students’ finished products and presentations. The iJAG Students were thrilled to have the opportunity to show their ideas for improving our community to the people who make decisions about
our community.

iJAG Student Ashley Bucklew, shared, “I was really nervous to talk to the people from the community at first, but after awhile I was used to it and they made it fun. It was a good experience and it was fun to have them listen to our ideas and ask us questions about the project.” Fellow student Evelin Ortiz added, “It was interesting to hear what they thought of our ideas.”

Following the students’ presentations in December, their ideas were brought up at the City Council meeting on January 9, 2012, when the City Administrator brought up the green space during their meeting. He and the council members discussed some of the ideas heard during our project and also discussed asking some of the students to be part of the group determining the future of the site.

DM Register - East teacher, iJAG program help talented teen find success

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111117/COMM/311170066/East-teacher-iJAG-program-help-talented-teen-find-success?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Jazmine Heard, 16, a junior at East, is attending a leadership conference in Washington, D.C. / DAVID DOLMAGE/PHOTOS FOR THE REGISTER/DAVID DOLMA

Written by

DAVE DOLMAGE | community@dmreg.com

Jazmine Heard didn’t ever think that she’d be one of those kids who dropped out of school. But when the East High School junior found herself underwater and sinking fast, it was iJAG — Iowa’s program that is part of the Jobs for America’s Graduates program — that kept her in school and has her on track to graduate.

“Last semester I thought I was going to drop out; I just went downhill,” Heard, 16, said.

The program, designed to help at-risk high school students complete their education and plan for their future, has been a lifesaver for Heard. She said it’s because of iJAG that she is performing better in the classroom, has plans for college and this week is in Washington, D.C., taking part in the National Student Leadership Conference. Poetry she wrote in school earned her the trip.

Between her relationship with iJAG specialist Jenny Myers and her interest in journalism, Heard said she isn’t just going to graduate, she now has plans to attend college as well.

“These are the two classes that made me stay this year,” Heard said. “Miss Myers is one of the best teachers that I’ve ever had.”

Heard that she looks forward to coming into Myers’ classroom because she knows Myers won’t judge any of her students. Heard said many students who don’t regularly attend their other classes still show up to take part in iJAG, something Heard credits to Myers’ ability to reach the teens.

“She’s kind of like a parent to me,” Heard said.

When Heard found out that the poetry she’d written and performed was good enough to send her to the nation’s capitol for youth leadership conference, the first person that she wanted to share the news with was Myers.

“I’m thrilled that my writing skills have taken me this far,” said Heard, who hopes to attend college and pursue a degree in journalism.

The iJAG program also helped Heard make a resume, which she said helped her get a job at Taco John’s. Creating a resume was something that Heard didn’t think she would have been able to do without help from iJAG.

Heard said that when she showed the resume to prospective employers, it was clear they were impressed.

“When people see that you have a resume, they know you know what you’re doing,” Heard said.

The youth conference began Wednesday and concludes on Saturday.

DM Register - Program gets students on track to graduate

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111117/COMM/311170072/Program-gets-students-track-graduate?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Erica Tietz, Javonte Massey, Darron Kitterman and Ben Frazier look at a picture from last year's National Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., during a rehearsal session at the Grimes State Office Building. / DAVID DOLMAGE/PHOTOS FOR THE REGISTER/DAVID DOLMA

Written by

DAVE DOLMAGE | community@dmreg.com

When Darron Kitterman dropped Javonte Massey off at the Des Moines airport earlier this week, he knew that he’d be sending the teenager off to a bright future.

Kitterman is a specialist for iJAG, the Iowa arm of Jobs for America’s Graduates, a program that helps at-risk students graduate from high school and find careers. The program helped Massey turn his life around.

The path to Washington, D.C. — where Massey is taking part in the National Student Leadership Conference — wasn’t an easy one, Massey said.

Originally from Chicago, he struggled in school, and his grades began to slip. After moving to Des Moines to live with his father, Massey was determined to turn things around.

When he met Kitterman, who runs the iJAG program at Lincoln High School, things clicked.

“I wasn’t doing what I needed to do,” Massey said. “This program helped me do the right thing and get on track to graduate.”

Kitterman looks for kids who are in danger of not graduating. He works with them one on one and motivates them to stay in school and finish their education. He also helps students write resumes, practice their interviewing skills, and prepare for a future that stretches beyond high school.

After students in the program graduate, Kitterman keeps tabs on them for at least a year. Many choose to stay in touch with Kitterman long after the program is over.

“Until you see it first-hand, you don’t realize how it affects the students” to have that mentoring relationship, Kitterman said.

Massey was selected from a group of metro area iJAG students to visit the nation’s capitol, based on a presentation he gave in which he talked about the struggles he’s faced in his life, and how he’s worked to turn things around.

Kitterman said that Massey’s performance had the judges mesmerized. As the two were headed for home, Kitterman got a call telling him that Massey had won.

“They called me on the way home to tell me, but he was still in the car with me,” Kitterman said. He kept the news a secret and Massey was surprised at school.

The trip to Washington, D.C., was the first time Massey had ever flown, but rather than focus on that part of the experience, he said last week he was looking forward to tours of Congress and the chance to meet several of Iowa’s elected officials.

“I’m nervous because I really want to do good,” Massey said. “Just to be able to go, to go on an airplane, and to have this experience is amazing.”

Massey said he wants to squeeze in some sightseeing time on the trip, too.

“I’m excited to see every little bit of Washington, D.C., that I can get to,” he said.

The youth conference began Wednesday and concludes on Saturday.

-------------

iJAG Student Meets Barry Griswell in New York

Nov 4 - Carolina Aguilar (left) is pictured with Dr. Mary Chapman (second from left), Barry Griswell (center), and Vinh Nguyen (right) at Opportunity Nation in New York City.

Carolina Aguilar, a current iJAG Early College Success program student at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), was chosen as  1 of the 100 students selected to attend a nationwide summit, OpportunityNation (www.opportunitynation.org) in New York City on November 3^rd -5^th, 2011, with DMACC President, Rob Denson.  Carolina was nominated by her iJAG Career Coach, Don Southammavong, at DMACC to attend the summit.  

“The summit, co-convened by TIME Magazine, United Way Worldwide, AARP, AARP Foundation, and Ford Foundation, and supported by a coalition of more than 160 businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and faith communities - "opportunity generators" - is focused on highlighting tangible ways to create more opportunity in America” (www.opportunitynation.org)

Carolina was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended East High School.  While in high school, Carolina was a part of the iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) program that helps students with multiple barriers graduate high school and continue into post-secondary education.  Carolina grew up with multiple barriers to graduating high school.  She overcame those barriers with the help of iJAG and now is a proud advocate of the program.  Carolina was the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college. She is majoring in Biology and Dental Hygiene.  

iJAG Specialist Featured in Des Moines Register

iJAG Specialist Darron Kitterman who teaches at Lincoln High School in Des Moines was featured in the Des Moines Register business section in print on October 24, 2011.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111024/BUSINESS02/310240048/1029/BUSINESS02

 

iJAG Student Attends 'Opportunity Nation' in New York

Carolina Aguilar, a current iJAG Early College Success program student at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), was chosen as  1 of the 100 students selected to attend a nationwide summit, OpportunityNation (www.opportunitynation.org) in New York City on November 3^rd -5^th, 2011, with DMACC President, Rob Denson.  Carolina was nominated by her iJAG Career Coach, Don Southammavong, at DMACC to attend the summit.  

“The summit, co-convened by TIME Magazine, United Way Worldwide, AARP, AARP Foundation, and Ford Foundation, and supported by a coalition of more than 160 businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and faith communities - "opportunity generators" - is focused on highlighting tangible ways to create more opportunity in America” (www.opportunitynation.org)

Carolina was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended East High School.  While in high school, Carolina was a part of the iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) program that helps students with multiple barriers graduate high school and continue into post-secondary education.  Carolina grew up with multiple barriers to graduating high school.  She overcame those barriers with the help of iJAG and now is a proud advocate of the program.  Carolina was the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college. She is majoring in Biology and Dental Hygiene.   

She volunteers at many iJAG high school events and serves as a role model to other students that are struggling.  “I can help them see that they can graduate high school and continue their education just like I did, said Carolina.   In her limited free time, Carolina volunteers as part of the iJAG Early College Success Program, enjoys playing soccer and is very active at her church, Ministerio Nuevo Amanecer, She is an amazing role model to her community and will represent iJAG and Iowa proudly. 

iJAG Releases New Video

 

October 28 2011

iJAG Walk-Across-Iowa Featured by Press

Oct 12, 2011 - The iJAG Walk-Across-Iowa fundraising and awareness campaign was featured across the state by the media.

Students Step into Action: iJAG is the Reason they Walk Across Iowa Oskaloosa news (DES MOINES) – Students in iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates) lead their communities in a Walk Across Iowa on Oct. 11th. The students hope to grow ...

Walk Across Iowa WOWT Students in iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates) lead their ... Through their actions they intend to create awareness and raise funds for iJAG, ...

Davenport students walk for jobs program awareness Quad City Times Wearing identical white and blue T-shirts, the Davenport iJAG students and their teachers walked from Modern Woodmen Park to the Village of East Davenport ...

August 2011 - iJAG Early College Program Success

Laurie,

Here is a text message I just got from iJAG student Michael B.

This would have never happened if it wasn’t for the invention of the iJAG Early College Success Program and my colleague Don Southamavong.

Thank-You Don!

 

Darron Kitterman
iJAG Specialist
Lincoln High School
Des Moines, Iowa

PS – Laurie – Thanks for leading the charge, we are doing what we set out to do.