Connecting Cass County aims to guide teens into adulthood, education, careers

ATLANTA, Texas — Marietta, Texas, native Dr. Robert Harper is returning to his dwelling surroundings to offer an option for young folks to receive specialized advice in transitioning to adulthood and achievements in college or university and careers.

The initially session of Connecting Cass County commenced Monday at the Atlanta Center University Library with far more than 30 students and six adult leaders attending. Further more classes will continue on this thirty day period and in July at Atlanta High School and Linden-Kildare Substantial Faculty.

The outreach effort and hard work is being produced doable via Dr. Harper’s nonprofit software referred to as The HOPE Initiative.

“Recently my initiative was awarded a $54,000 grant from the Hogg Basis for Mental Health to give college, occupation and daily life readiness for college students residing in Cass County. We were 1 of 77 candidates to obtain funding,” Dr. Harper claimed.

Around the upcoming two yrs, the initiative will engage with middle and superior faculty college students between the ages of 14-19 and give them with skill improvement, health and wellness things to do, profession pathway awareness and workforce exposure.

As an example of a single of the particular talent jobs the pupils were being to undertake is that of the “elevator” speech with which Dr. Harper opened Monday’s session.

“Do you know what an elevator speech is?” Dr. Harper began, with the solution generally getting “No.”

“Perfectly, look at you are on the initially ground of an elevator,” Dr Harper proceeds, “and you are likely to the sixth ground. With you is a person you want to make a great impact upon. You will not have a lot time, but you need to have to community with this human being, potentially make a ask for.”

In the brief time from flooring one to six, you will need a speech to give to the fast paced person that is a summary of your credentials, who you are and what you do … what your request is.

“It’s a networking instrument, and so important to one’s achievement. It is really an elevator speech to make an perception.”

For the course teaching, Dr. Harper claimed he will give the youthful men and women a framework, and they need to compose their elevator speech and memorize it.

“Then, we have grownup mentors who will role-participate in with you as you give your elevator speech. We want to make certain you know who you are, your mastering design and style, individuality type and a little something about occupations great for you. The moment you uncover this out, you will be able to give your elevator speech. You will be equipped to promote your self.”

As a further example of the kind and quality of expertise the young individuals will be acquiring in the seminar is a glimpse at the initially day’s define of topics to be coated.

Beginning at 9 a.m.:

• Particular energy evaluation

• Identity form evaluation

• Learning design and style assessment

• Career cluster evaluation.

LUNCH

• Knowledge the ACT Examination

• Q&A and Dismissal 2 p.m.

Thursday’s session will emphasis much more upon schooling achievement. Its variety of topics are (1) Readiness Profile Overview (2) ACT Diagnostic English (3) ACT Diagnostic Math (4) ACT Diagnostic Reading: and (5) ACT Diagnostic Science.

Dr. Harper stated he hopes the beginning of this initiative in Atlanta and Linden will result in other college districts in Cass County signing up for in. He also hopes to stimulate men and women and businesses to join the energy

“The goal is to assist youthful persons changeover to adulthood and with college and job readiness. I am calling it a contact to motion in Cass County.”

Dr. Harper then similar a nearby encounter when he was approached by the Atlanta Substantial basketball crew coach worried for two or a few of his gamers who experienced requested for enable with their ACT scores. The mentor assumed of the HOPE Initiative and Cass County Link.

“Can I chat to your group?” Dr. Harper stated he requested. “Why not all the crew players? We can assistance all the women.”

The mentor just cherished that, Dr.Harper claimed.

“And so here we are.”

If other faculties and leaders are on the lookout for aid with the HOPE Initiative, Dr Harper claimed just to give him a call, and “We are going to start the enrolling procedure.”