'Our safe haven': Community rallies behind Pinellas County Job Corps center
Share this @internewscast.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The fight to save the Pinellas County Job Corps continues in St. Petersburg.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor paused operations at Job Corps centers nationwide.

Since then, St. Pete City Council member Corey Givens Jr. said there’s been some changes.

“A federal judge has granted a temporary injunction that postpones the closure of Job Corps until June 30. Beyond that date, however, there are many uncertainties,” he stated.

Why do those unknowns matter? Meet 18-year-old Eamonee George.

“I got here when I was 17,” George said. “I was almost homeless.”

“I wasn’t trying to live anymore,” she continued. “I was ready to disappear all the way.”

But eight months later, George said, she’s now turned her life around thanks to Job Corps.

“I’m leaving now with my diploma,” she said. “My pharmacy technician license, better ways to express the way that I feel, and a job.”

At the end of the day, George said, she wants the world to know what’s at stake.

“A lot of us are one step away from going to jail, one step away from smoking the wrong thing and dying,” she said. “This place is our safe haven.”

“It’s literally helping us,” George continued. “We have no future, for real, without Job Corps.”

News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked council member Givens, “What is your biggest worry for the city of St. Pete?”

“I’m most concerned about the possibility of having a large vacant area here on the deuces,” he remarked. “This could lead to a gap in available training services.”

“There’s going to be a gap in housing,” Givens continued.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Five Illini athletes place in the top 10 during the opening two days of the NCAA Track Championships

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois is off to a solid start in…

The Strategy of Virginia Candidates Pledging to Abolish the Car Tax

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia voters may be feeling deja vu.  Former…

Multiple Websites and Services Hit by Widespread Outages

(NEXSTAR) — Several websites and online services, including Google services, Spotify, DoorDash,…

Supreme Court Reopens Case Involving FBI Raid Error

The Supreme Court on Thursday revived an Atlanta family’s lawsuit over a…

Geraldo Rivera Criticizes Sen. Padilla’s Dismissal as ‘Unfavorable’

() California Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a Department of…

A Critically Endangered Tortoise Successfully Hatches at Denver Zoo

DENVER (KDVR) — An egg that was found in a tortoise habitat…

Watch Live: President Trump Set to Sign New Resolutions

() President Donald Trump is expected to hold a bill signing on…

Woman Hurt in Hit-and-Run as ICE Protesters March Downtown

CHICAGO A woman was injured Tuesday afternoon after she was struck by…

Yosemite Updates Guidelines Following Transgender Pride Flag Display on El Capitan

YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An updated rulebook for Yosemite National Park would…

Israel Strikes Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Facilities; Iran Retaliates with Drone Attacks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In a major escalation, Israel launched…

Community Feature: Bement Village Activities

BEMENT, Ill. (WCIA) — Jody Shonkwiler, the Activities Director for the Village…

St. Pete City Council Greenlights Plan for Disaster Recovery

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The St. Pete City Council approved its…