It has taken Quincy Youngs two years to start getting his life back on track. What\u2019s another couple of hours?<\/p>\n
A two-hour bus ride takes the 20-year-old St. Petersburg resident from the homeless shelter where he regularly currently resides in north Pinellas Park to the St. Petersburg\/Gibbs campus at St. Petersburg College (SPC), where he thrives as a participant in the PITCH program.<\/p>\n
Funded through an Educational and Entrepreneurial Training Program grant from the City of St. Petersburg, SPC\u2019s PITCH program is a part of the Cohort of Champions training program under the My Brother\u2019s and Sister\u2019s Keeper initiative. SPC\u2019s PITCH program is designed to help at-risk African American men gain work readiness skills, obtain workplace certifications and enroll in postsecondary education. They also receive guidance regarding career and entrepreneurship options.<\/p>\n
SPC\u2019s second cohort of PITCH students is expected to complete their CompTIA A+ IT hardware and software certification course this month. The College also is offering a Cell Phone and Tablet Repair Technician course for PITCH students. The grant pays for the students\u2019 tuition and certification test fees, as well as providing a free college and career readiness courses, mentoring and support services.<\/p>\n
Youngs was a graduate in the inaugural PITCH CompTIA A+ class that wrapped up this summer. His success in the program has led to a position as an assistant to the instructor of the current PITCH cell phone repair course. His instructor created the position specifically for Youngs, impressed with his student\u2019s enthusiasm and growing IT interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cA technical and rapidly changing field such as cell phone repair requires students to think outside of the box. Quincy is that type of student \u2013 he is not afraid to take the time to tackle a new challenge,\u201d said Dwayne Josephson, SPC instructor.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter observing how well Quincy was excelling in the PITCH A+ class, I was glad to give him the opportunity to attend the cell phone repair classes as my student assistant where he exceeded my expectations again.\u201d Josephson added.<\/p>\n
Youngs first heard about the program while at the Pinellas County Justice Center, where he was slated to appear before a judge for a previous missed appearance.<\/p>\n
A worker from a community health center approached him and told him about the PITCH program offered at SPC. Youngs was intrigued. While waiting for his case to be called, he reviewed the program brochure, detailing opportunities in IT.<\/p>\n
SPC worked with the City and regional businesses to identify careers and industries where a criminal record did not preclude an applicant from being hired. In addition, high demand careers were targeted for the PITCH program.<\/p>\n
Youngs, who has a misdemeanor conviction, is optimistic about his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to try to apply for a job at Apple; get my foot in the door there,\u201d he said. Youngs also is looking at spring classes at SPC.<\/p>\n
Higher education is no longer an impossible dream for Youngs, who admitted to being nervous on his first day at SPC.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowledge is power,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Participants in PITCH are taking the opportunity seriously, according to Youngs.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of us were on the same track,\u201d Youngs said of his classmates. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see other people take advantage of PITCH and improving their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students\u2019 instructor was equally impressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the students in the Cell Phone Repair class have given 110 percent to the program. With each repair came a new real-world challenge they had to solve to be successful,\u201d Josephson said. \u201cEach day I see them putting in the hard-work needed to be a success in the field. It has been my honor help these young men get the real-world experience they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Praising the program, SPC and the City of St. Petersburg, Youngs encourages individuals to contact officials on PITCH.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep your head up. Bury your heads deep in those books,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It has taken Quincy Youngs two years to start getting his life back on track. What\u2019s another couple of hours? A two-hour bus ride takes the 20-year-old St. Petersburg resident from the homeless shelter where he regularly currently resides in north Pinellas Park to the St. Petersburg\/Gibbs campus at St. Petersburg College (SPC), where he … Continue reading City grant program inspires college pursuits<\/span>