WISCONSIN—The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest leadership team held their most recent bi-monthly meeting at the Blackwell Job Corps Center in Laona, Wisconsin. The off-site meeting was planned to help strengthen long-standing partnerships and help raise awareness of the programs and services that are available through the center. The visit allowed the forest leadership team to learn more about Blackwell Job Corps Center programs and interact with students and instructors.

In one-on-one meetings and in a special one-hour panel discussion, students talked with forest leaders and shared their stories and career goals. They explained about the highly specialized training programs and the skills they are learning. Student panelists included Michelle Bennett, Marcus Hall, Tanner Hernandez Amare Lawson and Angie Soileau. 

In addition to student panels, forest staff took a campus tour, saw demonstrations, and received an overview of Blackwell Job Corps Center programs and services from center director Annie Schenkoske. 

“We were delighted to host the forest leadership team,” Schenkoske said. “It was wonderful to be able to learn more about each other and explore new ways of partnering together to achieve the Forest Service mission that we share, which is to care for the land and serve people.”   

At the Blackwell Jobs Corps Center, eligible students can earn a high school diploma and obtain a driver’s license. At the same time, students learn valuable trades such as welding, masonry, carpentry, construction, forestry conservation and fire management. Students live on campus in dormitories and eat meals in a community cafeteria.  

R. Sargent Shriver established Job Corps in 1964 with the mission to educate and train young people for successful careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The U.S. Department of Labor funds the Blackwell Job Corps Center in Laona; the USDA Forest Service provides oversight. 

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest visit to the center inspired ideas for working together to accomplish shared goals. Several collaborative outreach initiatives are planned. Forest employees will staff an information table in the Blackwell Job Corps' Annual Construction Career Trades Fair Tuesday, April 25. The event is in partnership with the Northeast Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council. More collaborations will take place in the near future.