St. Clair County WIOA Youth Program

07/29/2026

Who’s ready to go to the fair! SCCTD is proud to offer continuously operating shuttles each day of the fair: July 30-August 1. 8 passenger pickup points have been identified, including the Belleville Metrolink Station which features free parking. Please visit our website for additional information: https://tinyurl.com/28jtkcw9. Mark Kern

06/10/2026

🚛✨ Paid Work Experience Participant✨🚛

Meet Javion Mobley Jackson!

Javion is a recent graduate of 160 Driving Academy who recently began his 599-hour Paid Work Experience at Kuna Foodservice - Local Supplier in Dupo, IL. He is currently gaining valuable experience in the warehouse, learning the company's operations and culture before transitioning into a transportation role through our On-the-Job Training (OJT) employer reimbursement program.

After his first week on the job, Javion identified a need for additional work gear due to the cold warehouse environment. Through our supportive services, we were able to provide him with warm clothing and steel-toed boots to help keep him comfortable and safe while performing his job duties.

Supportive services are one of the many ways we help participants overcome barriers to employment and achieve long-term success in the workplace. In addition to work attire, we may also assist with tools and equipment, uniforms, transportation assistance such as gas cards or bus passes, and other work-related needs.

We are proud of Javion for taking this important step in his career journey and look forward to seeing his continued growth and success at KUNA Foodservice.

Congratulations, Javion! 🎉

06/08/2026

🩺 ⚪️🔵 SWIC LPN STUDENT 🔵⚪️🩺

🌟Meet Maycei Musgraves 🌟

Maycei was previously enrolled in the Youth Empowerment Support Services (YESS) Program at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) where she earned her Illinois High School Diploma with the assistance of her awesome Career Specialist Lachelle Dowell.

Shoutout to Lachelle! 👏🏼😊

For those who do not know, the YESS Program is part of the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department as a contract partner. Similar to the St. Clair County WIOA Youth Program, the YESS Program empowers youth and young adults ages 16–24 with mentoring, education support, career coaching, job readiness training, and pathways to employment, college, vocational training, or military service.

While Maycei was working towards earning her High School Diploma, she was concurrently enrolled in SWIC’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. She obtained both her High School Diploma and CNA certificate in May 2025. 🎓🩺

With her dream of one day becoming a NICU Registered Nurse (RN), Maycei reached out to Lachelle for guidance on how she can enroll in LPN classes as the next step in her nursing career. Lachelle then referred her to our WIOA program to assist with tuition assistance for Maycei to continue on her journey towards becoming a NICU RN.

Maycei just began LPN training June 1st at the SWIC Redbud Campus. ✨ In the short amount of time that Maycei has been enrolled in our program, her new Career Specialist Sandy can confidently say Maycei is reliable, punctual, and someone you can always count on.

When participants come in for their first meeting with their assigned Career Specialist, they complete a “Getting to Know You” questionnaire. Here are some of Maycei’s responses:

💭 If you had one wish, what would it be?
🐱 To be able to have as many cats as I want.

💭 Describe yourself in 3 words:
✨ Funny, Smart, Outgoing

💭 What is a goal you’d like to reach this year?
🎓 Maintain good grades in the nursing program.

We are thrilled to be working with Maycei during this next chapter of her life. We cannot wait to get to know her better and see all the great things she will achieve! 🎉

05/29/2026

✨🎓🥳 High School Graduates 🥳🎓✨

Earlier this month, a few of our staff members attended the Belleville Township High School District 201 Bridges Program’s graduation ceremony where we had not one, not two, but SIX WIOA/Paid Work Experience participants receive their high school diploma! Bridges has been a partner of the St. Clair County WIOA Youth Program for over six years. If you are not familiar with Bridges, they help young adults with diverse needs build the skills they need for success after high school. They focus on teaching independence, job readiness, community involvement, and everyday life skills that prepare students for adulthood.

Every year, we LOVE being able to celebrate this milestone with our graduates and their families! Although our program is designed to work independently with the WIOA participant, sometimes Career Specialists need a bit of support and assistance from their Bridges client’s families to serve their children to the best of their ability. It truly is a group effort between our WIOA Youth Program, the Bridges staff, and the client’s families.

This year we were able to add Tavern On Main, Grimm & Gorly Florist & Gifts/Pour322 and Aramark as worksites through Bridges. Biggest THANK YOU to Mark Onstott, Jeff Bair, and Kelly Wade-Evans for welcoming our clients with open arms! Another big thank you to Bridges for connecting us to local businesses and organizations that want to make a difference!

🎉 Please help us now congratulate our 2026 High School Graduates! (with their worksite) 🎉

(Pictured) Lyra Williams, Grimm and Gorly/POUR
(Pictured) Matthew Pearson, Grimm and Gorly/POUR
Detric Allen, Tavern on Main
Deandre Allen, Aramark
Arnold Harvey, Aramark
Penny Fraker

04/16/2026

03/26/2026

✨Meet David Harris✨

David’s journey hasn’t always been easy—but it’s been powerful.

Early in his career, David struggled to balance school and work, often moving from job to job without finding the stability or purpose he was searching for. After graduating high school, he knew he wanted more—and that’s when he made the decision to join the WIOA Youth Program.

For David, this wasn’t just a program—it was a fresh start. With David’s commitment and WIOA funding, he was able to obtain his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Then he stepped into On-the-Job Training with the St. Clair County Highway Department, bringing focus and determination from day one.

Since then, David has:

✔️Secured stable employment
✔️Began working towards his spray license ✔️Purchased a new car
✔️Built confidence and a more positive outlook on his future

David’s story is a true testament to determination, growth, and believing in your potential. We’re proud to be part of his journey and excited to see what’s next! 🚧✨

Aside from Commercial Driver’s License training, our program also offers eligible participants opportunities in Architecture & Construction, Business Management & Administration, Education & Training, Health Science, Human Services, Manufacturing, and more!

02/26/2026

✨Paid Work Experience Success Story! ✨

If you have visited Sugar High in Belleville, IL, you might have seen one of our participants, Ashley Maldonado Wiley! Ashley recently completed her Paid Work Experience at Sugar High and is now a permanent employee. Our Paid Work Experience Program is designed to help eligible youth gain some real-world work experience. It strengthens soft skills including timeliness, appropriate dress, how to interact with the public etc. When we place participants at worksites, the business is not obliged to hire them after they complete their Paid Work Experience hours. We love it however when employers say YES to our participants and keep them as long term employees.

Ashley’s supervisor, Amber Weiss, had this to say about Ashley’s time in Paid Work Experience:

“Ashley joined Sugar High through the paid work experience program in October 2025. Ashley’s daily tasks were baking, decorating and preparing treats for customers. Ashley was always willing to learn other tasks such as customer service, being a barista, or just giving a lending hand. She excelled quickly. She has been an asset to my team. She truly helps take some pressure off of everything I need to get done! We have hired Ashley to continue on our payroll and absolutely love having her on our Sugar High team! “

We are so grateful for Amber and Chris for opening up their business to help Ashley gain meaningful and valuable work experience!

Thank you so much Amber and Chris!

02/03/2026

Meet Rashaad Roberson!

Rashaad is one of our newest Out of School WIOA participants and recent 160 Driving Academy graduate! Rashaad joined our program in October 2025 and has been achieving major milestones in the short amount of time he has been with us. He obtained his Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in December 2025. When looking for employment following his graduation, Rashaad's Career Specialist presented a work-based learning opportunity called On-the-Job Training at the St. Clair County Highway Department. Rashaad then successfully interviewed with the Highway Department's team early January and just finished his first week and a half on the job! Although Rashaad's employment journey just started, we know he is going to do great. Our program currently has 3 participants enrolled in On-the-Job Training with the St. Clair County Highway Department and we are very proud of every single one of them!