THE SIWIB’s Youth Council

The Youth Council, mandated by Title 1(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, provides an opportunity for local areas to create a system of activities and services that prepare youth to be successful in education and the workplace, and to become leaders in their community. The Southern Illinois Workforce Investment Board (SIWIB), in cooperation with the Chief Local Elected Officials, appointed the Youth Council and charged it with identifying and recommending eligible providers of youth activities to be awarded grants or contracts on a competitive basis. The Youth Council also engages in planning programs to help all youth succeed, including those who are dropouts and students at risk of dropping out.

The Youth Council selected three programs to provide youth employment services July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The contract recipients included: MERS/Goodwill Industries, Inc. of Jackson County, MERS/Goodwill Industries, Inc. of Perry County, and United Methodist Children's Home YouthBuild. Two contracts were awarded to the Regional Office of Education #21 Project ECHO and Carbondale Community High School Rebound WIA Youth for the Program Year 2008 for educational program services. For more information on contract awards, the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, or overall questions related to youth programs, please contact Roxanne Brewer-Coffey at (618) 998-0970, extension 271 or through email at

The mission of the SIWIB Youth Council is to develop and maintain a system that advances the education and training of youth in Local Workforce Area (LWA) 25 and, through programs improving career development, work readiness and job placement, increase positive development for qualified youth.

Current Youth Council members are:

Tyler Young - Chair
June Hickey - Vice Chair
Sheila Ahlgren
Steve Buntin
Bryan Cross
Earl "Joe" Davis
Ethel Holladay
Kathy Lively
Lisa Price
Terance Henry
Roxanne Brewer-Coffey - Staff Support