What if they staged a war and nobody came? Sound far fetched? Not to those who know a veteran with a catastrophic injury or post-traumatic stress disorder, or who had a friend or loved one deploy and not return. Not for those who know a service person for whom the military did not live up to promises made by a recruiter.
But what job opportunities now exist in the U.S. for young people who lack privilege and connections to find gainful employment or need money for higher education? Career Builders works to present alternative work opportunities to local youth.
Career Builders: Counter Recruitment (CBCR) aims to counter the often overwhelming military promotional campaign that local students face on their high school campuses. CBCR provides accurate and under-reported information about the realities of military service and highlights alternatives to military involvement, including scholarship opportunities. CBCR communicates directly with local high school students by tabling near high school campuses over lunch periods and engages students through music, food, flyers, graphic exhibit panels and personal contact.
CBCR is seeking volunteers and interns of all ages, particularly of high school and college age, as well as volunteers with recent military experience, to help enrich the conversation with teenagers currently subject to pressure from recruiters to join the military. Your help with Facebook and blog postings, maintaining and transporting large information panels, publicity, set-up and breakdown of exhibits, and assistance with providing food and drink for students, would be welcomed.
The Career Builders: Counter Recruitment team has planning and information meetings at the Center every month, and volunteers table at least monthly near local high school campuses. Join CBCR, and make a difference in the life of a potential recruit!
Contact careerbuilders@chicopeace.org for more information.
Scholarship Opportunities
CPJC is committed to helping young people find employment alternatives outside of the military to ensure their futures are brighter and more healthy and peaceful. For that reason our counter recruitment group has made this list of scholarships you can apply to online, as well as places you can find more.
- Funding Education Beyond High School is the Department of Education’s guide to getting federal student aid.
- Fastweb is a large online resource for scholarships and other aid for paying for college.
- Collegescholarships.com has a large list of scholarships with a still updated scholarship of the month.
- Coca Cola Scholarship Program offers 250 4-year scholarships.
- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund offers one year awards of around $2,200 for any students based on academic merit. Their site also links to several other scholarships.
- The State Farm National Merit Scholarship Corporation offers scholarships to high school students based on merit.
- The UNCF has a wide variety of scholarships for African Americans.
- The NCAA offers scholarships for minority atheletes.
- The Ron Brown Scholar Program for African Americans graduating from high school.
- The Jackie Robinson Foundation offers scholarships to minority students.
- The Hispanic College Fund has several different scholarships for students of hispanic background.
- The Gates Millennium Scholars Program provides full scholarships for African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Pacific Islander students focusing on computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or the sciences.
- The National Italian American Fund offers scholarships for Italian American students or students of other ethnic backgrounds majoring or minoring in Italian language, Italian studies, Italian American studies or a related field.
- Scholarship America has various scholarships available at different times.
