Youth Programs

School to Career

This opportunity is provided at the GWSV main plant and or at selected retail stores. The students come from nearby school districts and are case managed by GWSV staff providing guidance, goal setting, progress meetings and resource matching. The students are paid for the time they spend in the work experience component based on their individual production. This teaches that working hard means earning more. This is a very successful program that has evolved over the past 10 years.

Workability

This program usually takes place at the retail stores. It provides opportunities for special needs students to gain work experience. The students are supervised by school district employees and are paid minimum wage through school funds. Our partners in this program include school districts as far north as Fremont Union High School District and as far south as Gilroy.

ASSETs (After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens)

ASSETs, was initiated in February of 2004 with a 21st Century Learning Grant awarded to Goodwill Industries of Silicon Valley from the California Dept of Education. The grant originally funded after school programs at two high schools in the San Jose Unified School District, but in November of 2006 all efforts and resources were focused on Willow Glen High School. ASSETS staff works collaboratively with the school administration. This program provides students the opportunity to be in a safe environment and one that offers both academic and enrichment activities. Over 700 students participated in this program during the 2007/2008 school year.