Middle Earth’s Youth Career and College Readiness Program (YCCRP) prepares students in Manville and Bound Brook schools for a bright future by exploring a wide range of career options and guiding them through the process to make their college or career aspirations a reality!

The purpose of the program is to:

• keep youth engaged in school and improve academic performance so that they will graduate on time,
• explore a wide range of career options and determine the appropriate avenues for achieving their field of interest,
• improve students’ extracurricular resume by offering community service opportunities, and
• teach youth how to make post-secondary education a reality.

The program provides students with the following services:

• weekly workshops on: goal setting; the importance of grades, extracurricular activities, and community service; post-secondary options; ways to pay for college; college and financial aid application process; college life; and stress management, coping skills & journaling.
• career exploration;
• tutoring and preparation for PSAT, SAT and ACT;
• college and trade school visits;
• college and career fairs;
• one-on-one services to youth who are identified as experiencing difficult situations in school or at home;
• meetings to educate parents; and
• community service to include on applications and resumes.

This program also has a summer component for students including community service, employment readiness, and character education groups.

This has been a very successful program! In the last few years, 100% of participating high school seniors have graduated on time and over 95% have enrolled in a college or university for the Fall.

The Youth Career and College Readiness Program received funding from the Dombal-Vogel Foundation and an operating support grant from the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a Division of Programs in the Department of State.