Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

December 13, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOV. ROY BARNES AND KIM BURNS CITED BY JAG IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said two Georgians -- Gov. Roy Barnes and Kim Burns of Savannah -- were cited last week at the national Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) annual conference in Washington, D. C.

JAG is a school-to-work transition program for at-risk high school students. Gov. Barnes and Burns were recognized for their contributions to the state's Jobs for Georgia Graduates (JGG) program, which is modeled after JAG. About 500 people attended the JAG annual awards luncheon, where Gov. Barnes was honored. A delegation of 28 JGG students were among 250 students attending the three-day conference, Dec. 9-11.

"Leaders from business, government, education, labor and the community at-large attended the conference, along with a significant number of young people, to recognize Gov. Barnes for making such a vitally important contribution to achieve the mission of the JGG program," said Commissioner Thurmond. "And Kim Burns typifies what the JGG program is all about. She is a product of the program, and one who is giving something back to JGG by helping other young people in the program." Burns was a featured speaker at the conference.

Gov. Barnes received the organization's National Network Leadership Award, which reflects the leadership he has contributed to the success of the school-to-work system for young people both nationally and in Georgia. During the 1999 legislative session, Gov. Barnes and the General Assembly provided almost $1 million in additional funding to expand and restructure this highlysuccessful program. As a result, the number of schools participating in the program was increased from 17 to 25. Eventually, the program will be expanded to include students in grades nine through 11 to reach at-risk youth who might otherwise drop out of school before their senior year.

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Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Burns, the first JGG graduate to be hired as a job specialist, joined the program in 1990 as a senior at H. V. Jenkins High School in Savannah. After graduation, she attended Savannah State University, where she worked for the Upward Bound Program for seven years. A 1996 graduate of Savannah State, Burns was recently hired as a job specialist at A. E. Beach High School in Savannah.

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E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

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An Equal Opportunity Employer

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