| The Work Group Students on MTV |
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Who knows more about poverty and can provide insight about how to change conditions than those who experience it every day? This was the thought process behind the collaboration between MTV and YouthBuild USA. Hosted by MTV News Correspondents Sway Callaway and Kim Stolz, Our America, is national Town Hall gathering of low-income young adult leaders to elevate the leadership role and voice of young people in our shared national challenge to end poverty. Young people from over 40 national organizations and 25 states will explored the theme of America as it is now and America as it should be, offering their experiences of growing up in low-income communities and families. Two local Camden City youth, Henry Troche and Robert Hillwig, were chosen to tell their stories during this program. This national dialogue will include representation and discussion from young leaders who vividly define the problems in their communities, generate solutions and make policy recommendations. Special attendees include Rev. Jessie Jackson and Senator John Kerry who shared their visions for America. Henry and Robert both had life experiences all too common for youth who grow up in the City of Camden. Both became involved in the juvenile justice system as a teen, sold drugs to survive, dropped out of school, and felt they had little future. In 2007, they enrolled in The Work Group (TWG) a private, non-profit corporation which operates the New Jersey Youth Corps of Camden County. The Work Group’s Youth Corps is a voluntary program for young people who have dropped out of school. TWG accepts approximately 100 young people annually between 16 to 25 years of age. The experience is a rigorous one – a full-time combination of academics leading to GED testing, work experience through community service, work readiness training, life skills, career exploration and counseling. Henry and Robert both achieved their New Jersey State issued High School Diploma on the first try. Henry is currently working two jobs, one of which is at The Work Group, as a peer support worker. He plans to enroll at Camden County College in fall. Robert is currently a freshman at Camden County College. Robert’s speech is now available on the internet at http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF00A0A6E300170098E9A3/ |
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