The City of Jacksonville’s Developing Adults With Necessary Skills (DAWN) Program will host a graduation ceremony for thirteen young women and seven young men who have completed State Department of Education requirements to earn their high school diploma. These students, while serving jail sentences, received concentrated GED instruction coupled with transitional counseling and vocational training.
Thanks to their commitment to this program, these young men and women will transition back into the community better prepared to assume the responsibilities of positive and productive citizenship. This accomplishment fits within the DAWN programs’ ultimate goals of education and reducing recidivism by equipping adults with necessary skills and teaching them a trade “to build a future” and obtain gainful employment.
During the ceremony, the graduates will hear from the valedictorians of the program and community leaders and mentors. The students will be encouraged to defy the stereotypes and odds placed on them for having been incarcerated - soaring to new heights to reach their goals.
About DAWN
The Developing Adults With Necessary Skills program provides GED, life skills and vocational preparation classes necessary to assist sentenced 18 to 24-year-old males and females 18-years-old and older to successfully reintegrate into society when released from detention. As a result, students are returned to the community with a stronger positive attitude and commitment to serve as productive citizens, thereby reducing recidivism.
To learn more about the DAWN programs visit
www.coj.net key word "DAWN" or call (904) 630-CITY.