Nearly every week comes with a fresh batch of new jobs announcements in Kentucky. But Lexington community outreach coordinator Larry Johnson says many young people don't see a path into those careers.
"I hear a lot about opportunities in our state and the increasing number of jobs. There's thousands of jobs, big companies coming to the state, but a lot of our young people do not have the resources to get education for those skills and trade jobs," he said Monday.
That's just one area where the city will be using part of a $500,000 award expanding scholarships for young leaders, students of color, and those who have the goal but not the means.
Take Nola Lewis. She was the first recipient of the city's $20,000 "Be the Change" Scholarship, which put college on the table as an option for her.
"I was not going to college unless it was paid for because I refused to take out loans. Cause who's paying for that for half their lives," she said. "This opportunity that I was given took a huge weight off of me and my parents' shoulders. When I got to college, it was really surreal to be able to have my bills paid and even get a refund, which is something I never would have imagined while I was in high school."
City officials now hope to see more young students follow in her path, with the extra help from the state, portions of which will also fund trauma informed care services in school mentoring and additional support for those affected by gun violence.
