NORTHWEST, Ind. — The Center of Workforce Innovations in northwest Indiana is calling for volunteers to offer career counseling to high school students in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties.

The program is part of the AmeriCorps Career Advisor Initiative, a program that is going into its second ear of providing high school students with career information to assist them with their decision-making processes and planning when it comes to their future following graduation.

Partners for the program include United Way of Porter County and AmeriCorps.

Career Advisors will serve alongside teachers and counselors to help youth and their families prepare for college, the prospect of high wage/high demand careers, and lifelong learning. In addition, they will mobilize businesses and community organizations to act as partners and mentors throughout the school year and perhaps beyond.

The ideal candidate for a Career Advisor position will be someone who can leverage his or her knowledge and experiences to improve career exploration experiences and opportunities for students. They may be recently retired professionals or semi-professionals. College graduates and soon-to-be graduates can also consider this opportunity to gain experience, so they are also urged to inquire. Individuals from the skilled trades who want to give back to their communities and have an interest in assisting youth in career development also should consider this opportunity.

Career Advisors will be trained in career advising, mentoring, internship development, and job shadowing. They will be equipped to assist students achieve their career goals, which might include post-secondary education, apprenticeship and training programs, military careers, or school-to-work options.

School systems currently committed to the AmeriCorps initiative are Calumet (Gary), Highland, Merrillville; Portage, South Central in Union Mills, and Westville High School in La Porte County.

Interested individuals are urged to contact Kitty Meyer at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940, ext. 44.

Source: The Center of Workforce Innovations