Southwest Virginia Job Seekers Benefit From United Way Program

CGI Inc., Russell County

A major IT firm sees an emerging need for young employees with the right skill sets. Schools, in turn, are filled with students who would need such jobs within a few short years. Through a United Way initiative, the various entities are linked. Fledgling workers find a way to get a foot in the proverbial door, while the employer gets a source for filling essential positions.  

Such is the reality in 19 Southwest Virginia school systems, thanks to the Youth Success Initiatives program administered by the United Way of Southwest Virginia. Since its inception in 2019, the program has worked with local schools and prospective employers to train and deliver this emerging talent pool to companies like CGI Inc. at its Russell County facility.  

“We’re a new-model United Way,” said Melinda Leland, director of youth success for United Way of Southwest Virginia. “We are not just funds in, funds out. We implement systems in a cradle-to-career approach. Everything we’re doing is about helping our school systems expose our students to workforce development.”  

The program enables school employees, known in the program as Ignite Coordinators, to help guide their young charges into potentially fruitful directions that would otherwise go unnoticed, said Erica Bostic, a school counselor and Ignite Coordinator at Honaker High School in Russell County. She added that a CGI internship last year spurred one young man to pursue cybersecurity studies.  

“We’re trying to reach our kids to help them explore careers. Even when they’re ready to graduate, they may not be decided — and that’s okay,” said Bostic.  

As a key component of United Way’s mission, the Youth Success Initiatives plan is based on the following approaches:  

• Ignite Internships, taking place during four weeks or more in the summer, where high school students learn workplace skills and garner hands-on experience while being paid by the company  
• Careers Expo for Youth, where more than 4,000 Southwest Virginia seventh graders meet with regional employers and explore careers through hands-on activities  
• Educators in Industry, where local teachers and employers engage in collaborative visits  
• The Five C’s Workshop, where educators and students consider the importance of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creative thinking, and citizenship  
• Training and education for Ignite Coordinators, where they learn about program implementation and career exploration software  

While the COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on in-person visits and meetings, students have been able to continue to participate through online video sessions. United Way and the other partners are hopeful that face-to-face arrangements can resume this year. 

Robin Hunley, director of consulting at CGI’s local office, believes Youth Success Initiatives is providing a critical community service. As the product of a high school internship program herself, Hunley said it helped her decide on a career path in computer science and quicken her professional development when she joined the workforce.  

“Opportunities have grown considerably since CGI has come to Southwest Virginia,” Hunley said. “But we still have a lot of work [to do]. And United Way’s program opened it up for us to participate, and show the IT world to students in this area and what they can do. It’s definitely a win-win for both CGI and the students.”  

The company has brought on four high school interns, like the young man from Honaker High School, in the past year. They largely perform administrative and accounting tasks and get an introduction into technology, Hunley said. Such arrangements can carry over into college internships as well.  

“Their program is wonderful for this area,” Hunley said. “And CGI is happy to be a partner with them, and assist them in any way we can to help the youth in this area.”