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As you travel on US 74/76 near the community of Delco, you will see a sign sitting in front of a small white building announcing the Men and Women United for Youth and Families, CDC. The group operates the Tri-County Job Center and serves youth and their families in Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties.
The group was founded in 2006 and consists of professionals who have many years of experience and training in serving youth.
Director Randolph Keaton said the group works with many agencies and organizations to build relationships in the community. He said most kids want to attend college but when they have completed their degrees and come back to their home county, there are not a lot resources available for the things they may need such as finding a job. He said the Tri-County Job Center and Men and Women United for Youth and Families want to change that.
Keaton said Men and Women United for Youth and Families began with just two rooms, and some refurbished computers and software from the Council of Government. He said that now there is more space and there are now cubicles where someone can come in and go online and search for jobs.
He said students who need internet access are also welcome to come to the center and use the computers for assignments.
Keaton said that center is uniquely situated as it is the same distance to travel to Whiteville, Bolivia or Wilmington. He added that Southeastern Community College sends instructors to the center to teach various classes and Smithfield has held some training classes at the center.
“We’ve evolved from working with all volunteers to having some paid staff,” said Keaton.
The center offers assistance to 16-20 year olds who need job skills. “They could be in school or out of school,” said Keaton.
The center also works with finding resources for parents, working with drop-out prevention, and/or obtaining mental health services. Keaton said the goal is assisting parents and families in obtaining the necessary services needed so that their child can successfully graduate high school.
Keaton said the center also works to help them obtain job skills and and any necessary certifications.
“We are able to do those things here without a lot of funding,” said Keaton.
The program is funded in part through grants from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the NC Department of Public Safety.
Other programs offered include the Youth Ambassadors for a Better Community. Keaton said the youth have been busy growing herbs and produce and selling it at the farmers markets. He said Shelton’s Herb Farm allows the youth to get herbs and the youth also grow their own produce. He said this helps to develop an economic engine.
“Kids need something to be in charge of or things they are expected to complete,” said Keaton.
The center also offers parenting classes, a food pantry, budgeting, life skills, high school equivalency diploma classes, resource and referral services among other things.
The center is located at 25485 Andrew Jackson Highway, Delco. To learn more about the center and its services, call 910-655-3811.
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