FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Vocational Training & Resource Center to Relaunch Under New Branding

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vocational Training & Resource Center to Relaunch Under New Branding

JUNEAU, AK (March 9, 2022) – Over the past year, the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) has re-imagined its Vocational Training and Resource Center (VTRC) as a community learning center for Southeast Alaska.

The VTRC’s courses were paused in 2019 to allow Tlingit & Haida’s Cultural Heritage & Education division to develop a strong plan that would support the VTRC becoming a regional asset for the community.

The VTRC first opened in 2001 as a State of Alaska post-secondary authorized institution to provide high quality, post-secondary academic and vocational education. For nearly 20 years, staff provided training and career advancement opportunities through vocational classes for career certification, computer classes and workshops.

Through a rebranding process, the VTRC has transformed into Generations Southeast, a comprehensive center for all people that is rooted in our traditional tribal values.

“Generations Southeast was born from the vision we’ve always had for the VTRC,” said President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson. “We’re excited to see this new focus and effort roll out to provide greater opportunities for our people to reach their educational and career goals. Whether you're looking for vocational training or cultural classes to learn our languages and arts, the Tribe is committed to truly meeting our citizens where they’re at.”

Generations Southeast Community Learning Center

Generations Southeast will offer a variety of vocational training courses such as Commercial Driver’s License, business basics, and financial skills, as well as administrative assistant and child development associate certification. There will also be new distance learning courses online where people can take classes in health services, education, business and technology.

Cultural Heritage & Education Senior Director Sarah Dybdahl said the goal of Generations Southeast is to build on the foundation of the VTRC and expand opportunities for tribal citizens beyond the traditional career and technical options.

“For our communities, career and technical training goes beyond the generally accepted forms of training. Some of the classes around workforce development are art classes. Historically, that hasn’t been considered a career, but we have artists and entrepreneurs that make a living in our communities. It’s about fully encompassing what it means to us as Indigenous people and meeting the needs of our communities,” Dybdahl said.

Dybdahl also said the COVID-19 pandemic allowed them to focus on providing hybrid learning models that include in-person and online options so people in remote communities can stay home and take courses.

Generations Southeast has been reauthorized by the Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education to operate as a Career & Technical Education post-secondary institution. A new website (www.generationssoutheast.org) with course offerings and room rental information is expected to launch next week. Spring classes start in April and will be open for enrollment once the Generations Southeast's new website launches.

For more information on Generations Southeast’s courses, email generationssoutheast@ccthita-nsn.gov or call 907.463.7375.

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Contact:

Office of the President - Communications

Heather Hintze, Media & Communications Specialist

Phone: 907.463.7199 | Email: communications@ccthita-nsn.gov

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