Business mentors sought for teens

An initiative that seeks to put 36 unemployed 18- and 19-year-old high school graduates to work is seeking business people to serve as mentors.

Over the next nine months, the Dream Big program will train teens to take high-demand jobs in truck driving or the mining industry.

Participants in the program overseen by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada also will receive training in workplace and job-search skills and will be counseled on money management.

Lauren Basic, coordinator of Dream Big, said business mentors will be asked to spend about an hour a week with a teen for the next year.

She said mentors don't need any specific skills, but should have an interest in helping an unemployed young person make the transition into a career.

(For details on becoming a mentor, contact Basic at lbasic@bbbsnn.org or 352-3202. he first orientation session is planned for Nov. 14.)

Basic said truck-driving skills will be taught to participants through the Nevada Truck Driving School, and District 11 of the Operating Engineers Local No. 3 will teach mining skills. The Community Services Agency in Reno will provide classroom instruction in workplace skills.

Nevadaworks, the workforce development agency for northern Nevada, provided funding for Dream Big.