Washington County Youth Leadership Program’s Career Readiness and Life Skills Day
On Thursday, January 18th, the David Mathews Center team traveled to Chatom, Alabama to participate in the Washington County Youth Leadership Program’s Career Readiness and Life Skills Day. The group of students consisted of participants from the youth leadership program as well as high school seniors from all five schools in Washington County. The Mathews Center joined the Washington County career coaches and Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement in leading career prep workshops for the students throughout the day.
During our time in Chatom, the DMC team participated as volunteer staffers in the Community Action Poverty Simulation facilitated by Troy University. The poverty simulation is an interactive immersion experience that gives participants a glimpse into the structural and personal barriers people in poverty face. As volunteer staffers, the Mathews Center, along with volunteers from the Washington County Public Library, the Washington County Hospital & Nursing Home, and other community members, played key roles in the simulation, such as law enforcement, utility collectors, pawnbrokers, grocers, mortgage/rent collectors, and many other roles to help simulate a real world experience. Students did a great job simulating real-world situations that many families in Alabama face, as they try to find employment, childcare, community resources and complete their responsibilities such as paying bills. Everyone who participated had a meaningful experience, and students reflected on new insights they gained after completing the simulation.
Following a debriefing session and lunch, the Mathews Center held a workshop for the students on community asset-based mapping. The process of asset mapping allows members of the community to reflect on the assets surrounding them through creating a tangible display of the people, places, and experiences by identifying them on a map. Students, being the community members, were able to see on a map what assets make up their community. Some of the assets students identified were the library, golf course, parks and more. During the exercise, students were able to reflect on the resources many of these assets provide for their community.
The Washington County Youth Leadership Program’s Career Readiness and Life Skills Day proved to be a success. Washington County Public Library Director and DMC Board of Director, Jessica Ross, reflected on why opportunities like these are important for the students in Chatom. According to Jessica, “Educational opportunities like this, to experience, discuss, and develop strategies for dealing with real-world situations that are challenging and uncomfortable, are rare in our rural community. These workshops and simulations offer valuable exercises that help shape students' perspectives and understanding of the world around us. Hopefully, this experience will have an impact on how they interact and engage with others in their communities now, as students, and in the future as business owners, employers, community leaders, and productive members of society.”
At the conclusion of the day, the students prepared for an upcoming visit to the American Village for DMC’s 8th Annual Civic Institute that took place on February 2nd, 2024. During the luncheon portion of the Civic Institute, students took to the stage to discuss their experiences during the Career Readiness and Life Skills Day. The Washington County Leadership Program students were able to explain to participants why supporting rural communities in Alabama is important! The Mathews Center is glad to have participated in this day and to have had the students attend our Civic Institute. We truly look forward to joining the Washington County Youth Leadership Program again!
