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. Seed money for this effort was raised from close friends of the organization
in honor of Vicky Smith’s retirement, thanks to an initial investment from the Holly and Bob Miller 2017 Charitable Lead Trust.
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. Yuol jumped back into the Burlington community as an intern at Champlain Housing Trust, worked in King Street Center’s summer programs and then joined the staff at Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Yuol is currently a member of the Burlington Police Commission.
“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. Jim Young (former Teen Program Director) would be proud of us. I am indeed Jim Young’s success story and his hard work.” Yuol says, “I am hoping to have my own
success story with the youth here. I just want to be helpful to them and be that person they can go to for useful information.”
Joe Ruggles, Teen Program Director, says, “Yuol has already started to sit down with some of our high school youth to talk with them about their class schedules and what their early thoughts are about post-graduation plans.”
Are you in high school? Looking for a home base outside of school and where you can also get help navigating the world of school & work? Contact yuol@kingstreetcenter.org or call 802-862-6736 x110.