The Youth Career Summit kicked off as a statewide urban workforce and youth development event in 2001. Summits were held on October 23rd in Madison County, on October 24th in Mobile County, and on October 26th in Houston County. The next summit will be held in Houston County on February 26, 2002.
The Youth Summits are sponsored by the Urban Centers of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in partnership with various public and private entities such as the Alabama Department of Education (and its Spotlight on Science & Math Week annual program), city and county high schools, local Chambers of Commerce, business-related entities, and two-year colleges. The resource rich forums are designed to give female students, especially those students who have little or no future career plans, insight into technical career opportunities and training programs.
Urban County Extension Agent Rosalyn James in Houston County, collaborated on the first summit in September 2000 where over 500 students attended along with counselors, principals, deans and other supporters. Extension State Program Leader Dr. Jannie Carter, also attended the event, and envisioned the summit as a much broader educational outreach tool for urban youth across the state.
The Youth Summit was created in response to the need to decrease the shortage of women in technical careers, especially aviation, electronics, information technology, allied health, and maintenance technology. Its objectives are to educate students about practical job opportunities with future career advancement and high-income salary potential.
Students engaged in panel discussions with invited professionals from various technical career areas. Representatives from technical programs and colleges (sponsors) were also featured as a resource to give the students first-hand information on applying for financial aid to start their career education.
The 2001 summits were held with support from public/private entities as follows: