State Jefferson named Catalyze Birmingham Challenge – Shelby County Reporter

By staff reports

Birmingham – Jefferson State Community College was named the winner of Catalyze Birmingham Challenge, winning $ 150,000 for WOW: JSCC Workforce on wheels.

Birmingham, who strives to engage in innovation and cooperation in the non -profit sector, has announced the second round of winners for Catalyze Birmingham Challenge.

This initiative, supported by the Walton Foundation and a coalition of local funding, enables organizations that create opportunities for young people to explore their careers and associate education with meaningful work experience.

The Birmingham Catalyze Challenge Specialist Carlya Harris emphasized the importance of the continued impact and commitment of the initiative to promote career -related training.

“Based on the success of our introductory circle, this second cohort by Catalyze Birmingham Gnaste Offer Offering innovations in Birmingham’s pursuit of career -related training,” Harris said. “These organizations lead to a transformative change in career -related training and demonstrate the power of cooperation and community -focused decisions. We are glad to support their vision and we are excited to see the impact they will create. “

The second round of Catalyze Birmingham Challenge awarded funding to four non -profit organizations selected by a highly competitive set of candidates:

• Institute of Mental Health of Black Women -224,000 dollars: Through the navigation scholarship for a career in mental health, the Institute for Mental Health of Black Women strives to create an interest in the career of mental health by introducing adolescents and the elderly from the Birmingham region in the field of 14-18 years. The scholarship gives priority to black, rural and low -income students, remaining open to all participants eligible.
• Blunt County Education Foundation -188 734 dollars: The Big Virtual Careers initiative is a career research unit personalized as a multimodal laboratory space for students aged 14-18. This mobile lab provides opportunities for career exploration and raises awareness of college and career programs available at the Blount Career Technical Center in seven communities.
• Jefferson State Community College Foundation, Inc. -150,000 dollars: The Wow: Wheels JSCC Workforce overcomes the difference between education and career with high demand through simulators to study a mobile career of learners at the age of 11-18. These immersive video game-like training tools will provide young people in the four-circular college area with first-hand exposure to career paths through industry-backed curriculum and simulations.
• Ymca on the big Birmingham – $ 154,195: The Success Bridge Program should be delivered from the Northeast YMCA to ROBK up to 18-22 years as a resource center for the neighborhood, which will include consulting services, a modern pediatric clinic, accessible home property and youth center. The Center for Northeast Y’s leadership and training will be the epicenter for career path service providers to facilitate technical assistance, which leads to a higher percentage of graduates with diploma and enrollment in a commercial certification program, college or academy S

In March 2024, Catalyze Birmingham Challenge awarded $ 720,000 to five organizations demonstrating bold and innovative approaches to the career -related training. This introductory cohort has created powerful partnerships with employers and communities to transform educational experiences – and their initiatives continue to inspire and shape Birmingham’s educational landscape.

Catalyze Birmingham Challenge is a collective effort – with the support of the National Catalyze Initiative and funding from the Walton Family Foundation, with coincidence from the local philanthropic and business community, including the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, the ProTe Foundation The Blue Cross Foundation and the Alabama Blue Shield, Alabama Foundation, the Grand Birmingham Community Foundation, the Altec/Stylinger Foundation and the Innovate Alabama. The city of Birmingham and the empowered Birmingham are critical partners with Prosper to help develop challenging contours to best serve the community.

For more information about Catalyze Birmingham Challenge, contact Carlisha Harris at [email protected].