King Street Center launches its Academic and Career Initiative this fall. Designed to foster early goal-setting and planning in students’ academic careers, King Street Center aims to be a launching pad for job shadowing, internships, academic support and post-secondary education preparation.
The face of this project is Yuol Herjok Yuol, hired as King Street Center’s first Academic and Career Advocate. Yuol attended King Street Center himself, starting in middle school. After leaving his home in South Sudan as a child, he attended Edmunds Middle School, Burlington High School ‘11 and Lyndon State College ‘17, earning a degree in Human Services. He's held numerous community-based positions in Burlington at Champlain Housing Trust, Spectrum, and also at King Street Center.
“I am really pleased to be back home with King Street Center. Having been part of this organization since 2005 as a kid and being able to give back to young people is special to me. I want to be helpful to the teens and be that person they can go to for useful information.”
Onyekachi Akalonu is the newest member of the Teen Program staff team."Kachi" comes to KSC as Howard University '20 graduate. He brings great experience as a summer school teacher in New York, art instructor in Maryland, and afterschool academic support in Washington D.C. Kachi's ease with teens is obvious and each afternoon at King Street Center is now filled with even more fun.
Fartun Abdi joins our Preschool Teaching Team with a strong background in Early Education as a former Burlington School District Staff educator and coursework at Community College of Vermont. She also serves as an interpreter with AALV. We cherish the fact that Fartun's children are part of our Toddler & Afterschool Programs!
Jayy Covert, a Champlain College senior, brings their Psychology studies, Residential Life experience and student leadership in the Women's & Gender Center, National TRUTH Council and Include+ to the King Street Center Afterschool Program. Plus some very cool hands-on experience at Hunt & Edmunds Middle Schools. So glad to have you here, Jayy!