A longtime advocate for the New Choices/New Options program, State Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair) plans to visit with three recent graduates of the program on Aug.19 at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.
\”I am looking forward to meeting with these extraordinary ladies who have taken the initiative to learn new job skills in order to secure a better future for themselves and their families,\” said Stern.
The New Choices/New Options program offers valuable services such as career development, job search skills and nontraditional career exploration for low-income and disadvantaged women and men.
\”This program is much more than teaching job skills; it also provides women with a newfound sense of self-worth,\” said Stern. \”These local women often go from barely making ends meet working minimum wage jobs to being the breadwinner of the family as a nurse, construction worker or computer technician. The knowledge that they now have the means to provide for themselves and their families is empowering. The difference in these women from when they first enter the program to when they get their first paycheck is amazing. It is why I continue to support New Choices/New Options year after year.\”
Stern said he is looking forward to meeting with some recent local graduates during his upcoming visit and hearing about their journeys through the program. He is hopeful more people will take advantage of the program once word gets out on all the great success stories.
Graduates of New Choices/New Options invited to meet with Stern include Donna Edwards, who is pursuing commercial driver license training with GACTC and Smith Transport; Ellen Walters, who is pursuing further training after successfully completing an MS Excel class at GACTC; and Sharon Long, who has obtained further education in English composition and microcomputer applications with Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
Stern has continued to support funding for the program during each year\’s state budget process. This year was no different. The governor\’s budget proposal in February eliminated funding for the New Choices/New Options program.
However, Stern authored an amendment that would not only restore, but increase by $1 million, the amount of funding for the program. Following the introduction of his amendment and a rally in Harrisburg by the New Choices/New Options organization, funding was restored in the budget to the same amount as last year, $2.5 million.
\”This funding is vital to keeping the program going and possibly expanding the program by providing for more courses and offering classes at additional locations across the state,\” said Stern. \”Although we were unsuccessful at obtaining increased funding, I am pleased to have the organization maintain level funding, as many other programs funding through the program received deep cuts.\”
