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A New Film about Working Together to Change Young Lives

In case you missed Second Chance - a film about changing young lives created by youth in the Multnomah County juvenile justice system - you can watch it here.

In 2005 Worksystems Inc. (the non-profit entity dedicated to workforce investment and training) in partnership with local employers, designed and launched a career exposure program called WorkSuccess for Portland area at-risk youth. Worksystems obtained funding for this pilot career exposure pathway program from the US Department of Labor and operates the program through regional alternative schools and youth providers.

In 2007, Worksystems partnered with the Northwest Film Center's Young Filmmakers Program, Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, Juvenile Services Division, and the Multnomah County Percent for Art Program to engage teenagers from the juvenile justice system to make a film about WorkSuccess.



Awesome video!

These young adults are not just success stories, but role models for others to follow! Good job to everyone involved.


No good deed...

How times have changed. When I was a young man, committing crimes was grounds for punishment. Apparently, now the same behavior is awarded with community out-reach; and the investment of public resources. So the message then, is that criminal behavior will be rewarded with increased opportunity. Brilliant.

Heterosexual, white, males on college campuses are a minority student group nationwide, their numbers declining rapidly. Furthermore, the same group is performing at record low levels in high-schools around America. It is good to see that they are poorly represented in their numbers, in this new program as well. That will teach the young men in question that being born with a penis, and white skin is the worst crime of them all.

The best part is that now children who have done the right thing, will face competition for work, from these kids. Priceless. Punish hard work, reward criminals. That's sustainable. Good luck.

No child is responsible for the circumstances of their birth. I truly appreciate any efforts, coming from the community, to help less fortunate people, especially kids. However, many children who are just as disadvantaged as the children used as examples in this piece never commit crimes. But they will find themselves in line behind children who do, for resources that should be available to all. Not just former criminals.


Short-sighted Vance

We either redirect away them away from a life of crime or WE will keep paying for it. They need to be held accountable for their actions in a manner that gives them opportunitities to choose a different path than the one they are started out on.


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