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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2024)
Volume LII • Number 16 ‘City of Roses’ www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • August 21, 2024 Committed to Cultural Diversity Self Enhancement, Inc. Announces New CEO Students and leadership from six Oregon Job Corps campuses honor the diamond anniversary at Leadership Summit in Washington, DC Program Celebrates 60th Anniversary Oregon Job Corps Campuses Honor the Diamond Anniversary The U.S. Department of Labor hosted six center directors and six student lead- ers from the Oregon Job Corps campuses among the 245 attendees from more than 120 campuses nationwide last week for the third annual Job Corps Leadership Summit. The event marked the culmina- tion of the program’s yearlong 60th anni- versary celebration. “Since its inception, Job Corps’ mis- sion has been, and continues to be, changing lives through good jobs,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor José Javi- er Rodríguez. “The 60th anniversary is a significant milestone to honor the past and look forward to the next 60 years of creating opportunities and career paths for young adults across the country.” During the summit, held in Washing- ton, D.C., from Aug. 13–15, student lead- ers from the centers met with government officials, developed their leadership skills and toured the nation’s capital. “For six decades, Job Corps has em- powered young people with the skills and education needed for successful ca- reers in high-demand industries,” said Acting National Director for Job Corps Erin McGee. “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we honor our past while building a modernized program that con- tinues to meet the needs of our students and the evolving workforce.” Established as part of President Lyn- don B. Johnson’s Economic Opportuni- ty Act on Aug. 20, 1964, Job Corps has since expanded to include more than 120 centers, including campuses in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Oregon is home to six Job Corps campuses: Angell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (in Yachats), PIVOT (in Portland), Spring- dale (in Troutdale), Timber Lake Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (in Estacada), Tongue Point (in Astoria) and Wolf Creek Job Corps Civilian Conser- vation Center (in Glide). Job Corps is the U.S. Department of Labor’s largest training program, serving more than 50,000 students annually. Since 1964, the program has trained and educated more than 3 million individuals. It currently of- fers training in more than 100 areas across 10 industries, providing valu- able skills and career opportunities to young adults nationwide. Trent Aldridge, Chief Executive Officer (Photo courtesy of SEI) Significant Transition in Leadership Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), a nation- ally recognized youth development orga- nization, is pleased to announce that Trent Aldridge will succeed Tony Hopson, Sr. as CEO. Founder Tony Hopson, Sr. will be transitioning to a new role after an il- lustrious career of over 43 years dedicated to uplifting the lives of African American youth and their families in the Portland metro area. Tony, a Portland native and graduate of Jefferson High School, founded SEI in 1981. Initially conceived as a one-week Enhancement Camp aimed at offering positive alternatives for African American teens, SEI quickly expanded under Tony's visionary leadership. By 1989, it had be- come a year-round program offering aca- demic support and comprehensive wrap- around services. In 1997, SEI opened the Center for Self Enhancement, which now serves thousands of youths and families Continued on Page 6
