YES! TO YOUTH INITIATIVE WINS PRESTIGIOUS GOLD AWARD
Regional Initiative Honored at Texas Association of Partners in Education Conference

Waco, TX – The Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) recently honored the Yes! to Youth initiative as a Gold Award-Winner for the Community Partnership - Career Education category at its annual Effective Education Partnerships Conference.

YES! (Youth Employment Solutions) is an on-going initiative that includes career and training opportunities, outreach, an interactive web site (www.YestoYouth.com), and culminates in an annual event called the YES! Expo that is open to 49 area high schools to participate with private industry and training providers in interactive and hands-on demonstrations of in-demand occupations.  

The YES! to Youth initiative was created through a partnership with Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas, KWTX-Channel 10, Education Service Center Region 12, Heart of Texas TechPrep Consortium, Waco ISD, MCC and TSTC.  Additionally, numerous private businesses and public entities sponsor the initiative and participate in the annual YES! Expo event. 

The partnership positively impacts students’ career awareness and development by exposing youth in the six-county region, comprised of McLennan, Hill, Bosque, Freestone, Limestone, and Falls counties, to in-demand occupations with leading employers in high-growth industries and to the knowledge and skills needed for future workforce success. 

“This award distinguishes the Heart of Texas as a leader in developing innovative partnerships with schools, communities and private business,” explains Anthony Billings, Executive Director.  “The YES! To Youth initiative focuses on preparing the pipeline of workers with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of employers in the Heart of Texas region.” 

The TAPE award winners exemplify the highest commitment to the students attending public schools in Texas.  Each award winner will be featured in the publication of Powerful Partnerships, 3rd Edition, sponsored by Chevron.  This yearly guide is used as a capacity building resource by school districts, businesses, non-profits and community leaders throughout the country. For additional information about the TAPE Partnership Awards, visit www.TAPE.org.

Photo cutline: Representatives from the Texas Association of Partners in Education, ESC Region 12 and Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas celebrate with the award for the YES! To Youth Initiative. 

Pictured, from left: Dr. Willis Mackey, TAPE President-Elect (Judson ISD); Ted Taveras, Chairman of the Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board, Inc.; Christine Holecek, Education Specialist with ESC Region 12; Zenda Johnson, TAPE President (Pflugerville ISD); Eunice Williams, Project Manager with Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas; and Anthony Billings, Executive Director for Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas.