November 15, 2003
Robert Nick addresses the crowd.
On August 18, 2003 Yuut Elitnaurviat--The people's Learning Center--celebrated its official ground-breaking. The new regional learning center is scheduled to open its doors in August of 2005.
The facility will have dormitories for 80 resident students and will be a place for local agencies to pool their educational programs and resources. The result of the innovative partnership is that students will have the opportunity to enroll in industry-specific training without ever leaving the YK Delta.
Yuut Elitnaurviat was created in 1999 after years of discussion among community leaders. All acknowledged the need for additional local vocational training opportunities. The Yuut Elitnaurviat vision is to provide both secondary and post- secondary career learning under one roof so that we as a region can continue to "grow our own" local, highly trained workers.
Nine partner agencies have formed Yuut Elitnaurviat Incorporated to make this dream a reality.
- Alaska National Guard
- Coastal Villages Region Fund
- Association of Village Council Presidents
- Lower Kuskokwim School District
- AVCP Regional Housing Authority
- Kuskokwim Campus- University of Alaska
- Calista Native Corporation
- Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation
- City of Bethel
As the region's largest employer, YKHC has been a key partner in the Yuut Elitnaurviat vision. The new facility has been designed to meet many of the training needs of YKHC. There will be classrooms specifically designed for health courses, a shop for construction trades training, and special programs specifically designed to engage high school students so that more local students can be recruited into healthcare professions.
Yuut Elitnaurviat would like to thank Alicia Spotted Eagle, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of YKHC Support Services, for her assistance with the organization of the groundbreaking ceremony and the YKHC Dietary Department for preparing a wonderful salmon lunch for the local volunteers and out of town guests who attended the ceremony.