The program’s key elements would include workforce readiness, work-based experience, on-the-job training, life skills, technology training, certificate-based training, an entrepreneurship workshop, and tutoring.
UDC team touted its “considerable expertise and experience in providing training and education to at-risk, underserved and vulnerable children and youth.” They would exceed the Escambia Children’s Trust’s expectations because UDC “understands the needs of children and youth that exist in underserved environments.”
The proposal provided economic and demographic data for the Town Century, showing that median income was $20,530 less than the City of Pensacola, and one in four Century residents lived below the poverty level, of which 86.1% were Black. UDC asked for $1.27 million to serve 250 students annually over three years.
The students, ages 11-18, would come from Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High. UDC would develop with the town a community center for youth. They identified three sites and settled on the Century Business Center, where they would host “the very first computer lab dedicated to children and youth dedicated to youth and children of Century.” The Century Town Council was excited about the program and loaned UDC $61,925 for computers and workbooks. Read more.
Unfortunately, no one checked the Black enrollment at the four feeder schools. According to the Florida Department of Education, the fifth grades at Bratt and Byrneville had only 21 Black students last year. Ernest Ward had 56 and Northview High 85—for a combined total of 162 Black students. The Black students at Northview High appear to be performing well academically. Ten of its 12 Black senior students graduated.
Even if UDC had captured every Black student at all four schools, YouthFirst would have fallen far short of its annual participation goal. According to the invoices UDC submitted to the Trust, the program averaged 18.5 students a week through Sept. 30. YouthFirst has had 26 youth that have participated consistently, not necessarily daily, since Labor Day, according to UDC attendance records.
UDC has been reimbursed over $189K through September, meaning the Trust has paid UDC $7,269 per youth, 11-18, for six months.
Trust Board Meeting
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, UDC asked the Trust board to lower the ages of its eligible participants to kindergarten. Chair Tori Woods told her fellow board members that YouthFirst was for workforce development in Century.
“That’s what we approved,” she said. “My major concern is if we allow people to apply for the grant and then change what the base of the program is, it’s really not fair for people that didn’t get to apply because that’s not what was requested.”
Dr. Griffen defended the request to lower the program’s age limit, claiming that six of the programs key element would help younger kids. “With the younger kids, we found that the few parents that we did have coming were interested in having their kids participate in our program. So we service them in doing from handwriting to arts and crafts to coding, mathematics, things of this nature, emotional intelligence, which is something we’re already having, but we just lowered it for the elementary students.”
Woods said, “The grant that was requested was workforce development, work-based experience, internships, technology training, and —”
Griffen interrupted her, “-which is still within the purview of our grant. We’re not asking for anything that we’re not currently doing. We’re just nearly asking to lower the age group simply because we are finding that the elementary school, which is K-5, are in dire need of assistance as well.”
She blamed youth sports for the lack of participation among the older kids.
David Peaden was stunned. “Tell me if I’m hearing correctly, workforce development for a five-year-old is that—”
Griffen corrected him, “We don’t focus on workforce development. We focus on the other areas that could benefit a child. That’s in K-5, emotional intelligence, which is really big. I mean developing self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy, social skills development, communication skills, conflict resolution, all of these things are so critical for your K through fifth graders.”
She insisted that those instructions “fit within the purview” of the grant. “We’re not coming to request an additional service. We’re already providing that service. We are just basically modeling it for K through five.”
Woods said, “My concern is if that was the case, then that’s a different program. That’s not what was asked from the board, and requesting to serve younger kids is not what the grant was approved. So for me, that would be a supplemental program if we open up another grant, not adding it to this grant because this money was allocated for a certain age.”
Griffen said UDC had a problem engaging the older kids and their parents. She said her team has “exhausted” the Town of Century and the elementary, middle, and high schools. “We did open houses. We attended every function that was held and connected to every local organization that was available.”
Commissioner Lumon May said he was supportive of the effort UDC had put into the program, but he, like Woods and other board members, about changing the grants requirements.
“We have to measure those goals,” said May. “Either you meet the proposal’s merits, or you don’t.”
While the board has the ability to change grant agreements, he believed doing so would open a “Pandora’s box.”
The board decided to put off the decision on UDC’s request while staff gathered more information and other out-of-school programs that have received grants.
Notes from proposal
Each student would receive UDC’s YouthFirst Employment Workbook. They would receive soft skill courses such as an introduction to emotional intelligence, listening skills, positive thinking, and goal setting. The classes would be daily for 40 weeks from 2-6 p.m. in both physical and virtual forums, Monday through Friday. YouthFirst Century would provide more than 30 courses available multiple times, even in the summer.
UDC said it would partner with CareerSource Escarosa to provide on-the-job training through internships and apprenticeships. The agency committed to connect students to eight apprenticeship programs in Home Health Care, HVAC and electrical. UDC anticipated that 30 students annually would gain work experience through internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
The Life Skills training is built around self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy, and social skills development. Students would be given tests before and after each course. UDC and JetFuel would collaborate to teach and train students. Favor Hearts would provide CPR certifications to 100 students.
The Youth Entrepreneur Workshop would be done with the support of the Century Chamber and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber.
UDC & Its Officers
UDC created WorkConnect Youth Job Fairs with CareerSource and is an employment services provider for the Florida Department of Education Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. They claimed to have placed over 100 youths into jobs and internships and have done pre-employment training for youth to “our communities most vulnerable populations.” They asserted that they have trained more than 200 youth annually.
Dr. Jessica Griffen and John Rigsby head UDC. Griffen is the UDC CEO, COO of The Soft Skills Institute of Florida, and President and Co-founder of Eduocity, LLC. Rigsby is UDC’s president and CEO, and co-founder of Eduocity. Griffen oversees all program activities and is paid up to 30 hours a week, $1,050, for training, coordinating outreach, and community relations. Rigsby is the program coordinator and provides direct training to the children and youth. He coordinates all site and virtual activities. Rigsby is paid $945 a week for 30 hours.
Ronnie Gaines is listed as the lead trainer, and Timothy Fairley as trainer and mentor. They were to be paid $24 per hour for up to 10 hours a week. However, they haven’t worked on the program.
According to its website, the organization has five other programs: Families Achieving Sustainable Outcomes (F.A.S.O.), Positive Transitions, The Learning Bridge, WeLearnBetterTogether.com, and OJT-USA. The websites for Positive Transitions and WeLearnBetterTogether website are no longer active. The UDC Job Board is filled with error messages.
Town of Century
I contacted Century Town Clerk Leslie Howington for any public records concerning the loan to UDC – invoices, budgets, or repayments. She texted that she would send me information on one repayment – it was not sent. Howington did say the entire loan is due next month.
Read more on NorthEscambia.com.