News Release: JAG-K Launches “Espresso Yourself with Chuck” Video Series
Fun, encouraging and educational messages from a variety of sources are available on the Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) website via the video series “Espresso Yourself with Chuck.”
Hosted by JAG-K President and CEO Chuck Knapp, the program features a variety of guests who describe their careers and the obstacles they’ve overcome to achieve success. Additionally, the program also often features JAG-K students themselves.
On Friday, Oct 28, “Espresso Yourself With Chuck” featured Jeff Gueldner, a member of the University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball team that claimed the 1988 NCAA National Championship.
JAG-K recently launched a page on its website to host the video series, which was formerly known as “Coffee With Chuck.” Go to https://jagkansas.org/home/eywc/ to find the series.
A link to these and other episodes of “Coffee With Chuck” can be found under the heading “Archived Episodes” at the webpage link above.
Knapp has interviewed a host of individuals for videos to be used in the classroom in recent years. Knapp’s guests have included U.S. representatives Sharice Davids and Ron Estes, Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, newscaster John Holt, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol Herman Jones and former professional basketball player Ron Baker.
The program seeks to engage a student population with diverging interests and to educate about a wide range of careers. Knapp recently interviewed a member of the U.S. Marines, a police officer, a tattoo artist, the owner of a plumbing company and members of the Kansas Bankers Association.
“We want to introduce students to as many careers and opportunities as possible, and videos have been a way to bring diverse voices to the classroom,” Knapp said. “The guests on the program always share their personal perspectives on how to succeed in life. They invariably talk about the value of education, hard work, creativity and innovation.”
Knapp frequently features JAG-K students in the videos. Elected leaders of the organization’s student career association are often interviewed about issues relevant to students.
“JAG-K participants across the state are united through the career association, and they develop a community through conferences, competitions and other events that bring our programs together,” Knapp said. “They learn from each other, so they enjoy hearing the insights and perspectives of their fellow students on the videos.”
JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. JAG-K provides opportunities for students to explore careers through employer engagement relationships. Those experiences may include field trips, job shadows, internships and summer or part-time employment.
JAG-K helps students prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. The 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 38 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include ADM, AT&T, Evergy, Goldstein Charitable Trust, John Deere, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Kansas Insurance Department, the Kansas State Bank Commissioner, Stormont Vail Health, Synchrony Financial, the Taco Bell Foundation, the City of Topeka, United Way of the Plains and Walmart.
To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.