Can a new, $400K youth training program turn Century from 'forgotten' to 'unforgettable'?

When Jessica Griffen and John Rigsby conducted career fairs in Century, they saw a town of proud people who were looking for more opportunities for themselves and their children.

Century was dubbed a "forgotten city," they learned, with little in the way of after-school programs or activities.

Griffen and Rigsby wanted to step in and help, and they got a huge boost in their effort thanks to a nearly $400,000 grant from the Escambia County Children’s Trust.

Griffen and Rigsby operate the nonprofit Urban Development Center, which offers a trilateral focus of workforce, business and organizational development training and education services. The ECT grant is allowing them to launch a new program, “YouthFirst Century.”

The goal is to educate, provide job training and push forward the future of Century from the “Forgotten City to the Unforgettable City,” Griffen said.

“We are not trying to create Einsteins here, but individuals who are practical learners that are really in the business world,” Griffen said. “So we're teaching people how to be self-sufficient from the time that they’re children and get them to start dreaming and seeing their capability and understanding that competency does build confidence. So when you are competent, it breeds confidence and it breeds success.”

The Escambia Children's Trust approved distributing $5.1 million for "out-of-school" grants in mid-February, with the grants going to 19 organizations that provide high-quality after-school and summer learning programs that will prepare students in grades K-12 for “success in school, college, career, and life," according to a press release from the Children's Trust.

YouthFirst Century was awarded $397,556, and this past weekend UDC presented its plans for the program at Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church.

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YouthFirst Century is an after-school and summer program that will focus on technology skills, workforce readiness, CPR certification and even home economics.

The programs will serve children ages 11-18 from Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High schools.

There will be Mental Health Mondays where a mental health counselor will hold group counseling sessions to address the needs and challenges of area children, teens and young adults.

There will be a Young Entrepreneur Workshop that will teach kids how to launch their own businesses. There will also be a technology component where kids will learn how to develop websites, be introduced to programming languages such as JavaScript, and garner other technology-related skills.

UDC will also launch the first computer lab in Century, which will initially open at the Century Community Center and then move to Century’s Business Center once renovations to the building are complete. The lab will be accessible for all children, and will have local volunteers on hand to assist them. UDC hopes, in the future and with funding, to include a virtual reality lab.

All of their efforts is to make sure that they are providing a framework and foundation to catapult Century youth to the next level.

Luis Gomez, Town Council president and Seat 2 representative, describes Century as a once flourishing town that has declined over the years.

When the Children’s Trust came to a council meeting last year to propose the grant, Gomez reached out to Griffen to ask if she could write a proposal for the grant. With the grant won and UDC preparing to start the program, Gomez is hopeful for the future.

The town lost Carver/Century K-8 School and Century High School, and as Gomez put it, “When you lose the schools, you lose the population.” He said people started to move to Pensacola, Flomaton and other places for better opportunities.

Still, Gomez said the town is a blank canvas and a perfect place for anyone wanting to start a business, invest or raise a family. He said YouthFirst Century will help the resurgence of the town.

“These youth programs are going to entice people to stay around and see the children are the future. If you lose the children in Century, there's no future in Century,” Gomez said. “Now, if the children get educated and stay here, they become adults. When they become adults, they become leaders. When they become leaders, you have jobs and revenue and industry and livelihood right here in Century that brings the life of the community back.”

The program will also include transportation from the current schools to program sites such as the Business Center and Community Center.

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Transportation will be provided by Metro Rapid Transit, which is one of the few public transportation options for getting around town.

Trina James-Tanner, CEO of Metro Rapid Transit, created her business because she wanted to help her community.

James-Tanner said she is confident that YouthFirst Century will bring a new sense of direction for children in Century where they can become critical thinkers, learn entrepreneurial skills and become responsible, job seeking-adults.

“With the program that she's bringing, it's gonna be excellent for this area because our kids have no extra extracurricular activities that they can do once they get out of school. There is nothing in this area for our youth to educate them a little further than beyond the school,” James-Tanner said. “So the program that she's introducing is going to be excellent and give them the opportunity to want to get out of the house, get out from in front (of a TV) playing video games all day long.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: YouthFirst Century gets Escambia Children's Trust grant to help kids