"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Talking Leaves Job Corps Anniversary

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation’s Talking Leaves Job Corps will host a reception on Monday, October 30, in recognition of its 28-year anniversary at the organization’s facility south of Tahlequah.

Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy will be among the guests taking part in the anniversary celebration. During his presentation, Mayor Purdy will declare October 30th as Talking Leaves Job Corps Day in the City of Tahlequah. Other speakers at the event will include Job Corps National Director Dr. Ester Johnson, Regional Director June Boswell and Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith.

According to Principal Chief Smith, Talking Leaves Job Corps is a wonderful opportunity for Cherokee youth.

“Successful training programs and academics are vital to the success of every student that enters into our Job Corps program,” said Smith. “The instructors at Talking Leaves take steps to make sure that our students have the tools they need to prepare them for the next step in life. It is because of the success of our students and the dedication of our staff that Talking Leaves is celebrating its 28th anniversary this month.”

About Talking Leaves Job Corps

Talking Leaves Job Corps first opened its doors on October 18, 1978, and has continually been a successful and growing entity of the Cherokee Nation. Honoring the traditional respect for education, the Cherokee Nation passed one of its greatest legacies onto the Job Corps program by giving it the name “Talking Leaves,” which was the name given to the original Cherokee Syllabary created by Sequoyah.

Talking Leaves provides educational and vocational training for young adults between 16 and 24 years of age. The program is geared toward preparing young men and women for the workforce.

According to Outreach and Admission Coordinator Johnna Lingle, the success rate among participants is high.

“Our average graduate has earnings of $8 per hour or more after only three months of employment,” said Lingle. “We pride ourselves on offering quality education and opportunity to Native American youth.”

The training is individually paced and can last up to two years based on the student’s progress in the program of their choosing. The facility offers campus style living with dormitories, a cafeteria, and a recreation center. At the present time, Talking Leaves can accommodate up to 250 residential students.

Instruction can be obtained in health occupations, medical office specialist, medical coding-billing-transcription, business office tech, culinary arts, material handling, electrical wiring, and facilities maintenance. In addition, job placement services are available to ensure the achievement of participants.

To be eligible applicants must be between 16 and 24 years of age, be unemployed or underemployed and without a history of behavior or medical problems that represent a hazard to others. For more information, contact Johnna Lingle, phone: 800-256-9959 (ext.3310).