Students in Houston are getting hands-on experience in automotive work at a newly opened shop in the Fifth Ward. This auto shop is part of the Barbara Jordan Career Center operated by the Houston Independent School District (ISD). The center aims to provide practical job and internship experiences in high-demand fields for students in northeast Houston. It serves students from 12 different schools and has over 1,200 participants.
The Barbara Jordan Center started this initiative after a local education group discovered that fewer than 20% of Houston ISD graduates were earning a living wage six years after completing their studies, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The career center has been working on launching the auto shop since last summer. The ISD’s automotive program focuses on giving students both technical skills and soft skills to improve their job prospects.
Starting every Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, students enrolled in the automotive pathway will provide vehicle maintenance services to the public, which includes oil changes, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections. Customers need to supply all necessary parts and fluids and will pay for the labor provided by the students, as announced on the career center’s social media.
While it may not be the most convenient option to bring your own parts, customers will support the training of future auto mechanics at the career center. The ISD is also expanding its technical education programs beyond the automotive field, covering areas such as trades, culinary arts, engineering and robotics, and human services.
What are your thoughts on student-run programs like this?
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Source: Good News Network, by Andy Corbley