ASHLAND — Jobs For Ohio’s Graduates has been changing lives in Ashland County since 2023.
But the organization now has a space of its own for operations.
After expanding into Ashland County four years ago, JOG celebrated with community leaders Thursday afternoon during the grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new space at 43 W. 2nd St. in downtown Ashland.
JOG was brought to the county through a partnership with the Ashland County Department of Jobs and Family Services. Its original location was housed inside the county JFS building at 15 W. 4th St.
The organization serves more than 2,000 young people — ages 16 to 24 — annually across Ashland, Medina, Stark, Summit and Trumbull counties.
“We have a great team to help school districts, community-based organizations and many people,” said JOG Executive Director Chris Canova.
JOG Director of Programming Pamela Sayers thanked the Ashland County community for its support.
“There’s not a lot of communities that we work in where everyone has been absolutely incredible,” Sayers said. “To have you all here and to feel that support that you have poured into all of our participants is… I can’t thank you enough.
“It is absolutely amazing. Your community is amazing and I’m so glad to be a part of it. Thank you so much for welcoming us to it.”
The JOG Ashland team is led by workforce development specialists Ryan Patton and John Teevan.
Through initiatives including education, career development, leadership opportunities and hands-on work experience, JOG helps young people overcome hurdles, complete their education and transition into employment and career training into the future.
Below are photos from the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for JOG Ashland’s new space on Thursday. (Credit: Hayden Gray) The story continues below.
Community leaders discuss impact of JOG
Ashland City Councilman Dan Lawson said JOG has been a great addition to the Ashland community.
“We see this as being a vital part of our future because we always have to prepare for the future and the people that are coming behind us,” Lawson said. “We have to lay the groundwork for them to have a successful future and to stay here in Ashland and to thrive in Ashland and we see you guys helping us do that.”
According to its website, JOG participants have boasted a 93-percent graduation rate, 69-percent employment rate, 91-percent full-time employment rate and an 80-percent further education rate.
Young people within the eligible age range can apply to become a JOG student by filling out a brief form which asks for common personal information, along with what program services the individual is interested in and what career pathway the applicant would like to explore.
Ashland City Schools Superintendent Steve Paramore said JOG has helped district students land jobs.
“(It’s) very, very impressive what this program does for our kids. Everybody in this room is striving to make this community better,” Paramore said.
Ashland County Commissioner Jim Justice shared similar sentiments, thanking the organization for it’s countywide impact.
“Any one child that you’ve changed the future of has changed generations,” Justice said. “I’m really blessed to believe that this place is going to have generation after generation of successful families because of this program.”
About Jobs For Ohio’s Graduates
JOG, founded in 1987, is an affiliate of the nationwide Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) organization and utilizes the evidence-based JAG curriculum, built on more than 85 competency areas, to provide academic intervention, counseling, employment readiness, leadership and career development, subsidized work experience opportunities and job and post-secondary educational placement, according to its website.
