Troubled Youth Get A Second Chance Thanks To Local Transition Center
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: June 7, 2012
"I couldn't find a job and I got kicked out on the street," says Justin Taylor.
"I was in college but I kind of slacked off of college and so I didn't have a job or anything at the time," says Corey Flannagan.
Although Justin Taylor and Corey Flannagan come from different backgrounds, they both shared some of the same struggles.
Flannagan explains, "I called my friend and I'm like, look, I need some help."
When he called, Abilene Transition Center answered.
"They helped me register in job corp so I can go get my college degree," says Taylor.
The Abilene Transition Center is a place where young adults can get help in their journey to become self-sufficient, and it has only been officially operating for a year.
"I can't even believe it's been a year already," says Johnny Nguyen.
Nguyen is the program director and has seen over 200 youth receive services in the past year alone, but not without the help of several partnerships, including Hendrick Medical Center who presented the transition center with a check today.
"The center is becoming alive and that's what I've always wanted it to be. It's just like this living breathing place and not just a building or an office," says Nguyen.
It is way more than that and it has afforded youth like Taylor and Flannagan an opportunity they would have never seen coming.
"They helped me get a job, work on my communication skills and get me from place to place when I didn't have a ride," says Flannagan.
Now he has a job at a local hospital and Taylor will soon be off to attain two degrees.
Both young men agree, had they not gone to the Abilene Transition Center, there's only one place they would be.
"Probably be on the street still," says Taylor.
"I was in college but I kind of slacked off of college and so I didn't have a job or anything at the time," says Corey Flannagan.
Although Justin Taylor and Corey Flannagan come from different backgrounds, they both shared some of the same struggles.
Flannagan explains, "I called my friend and I'm like, look, I need some help."
When he called, Abilene Transition Center answered.
"They helped me register in job corp so I can go get my college degree," says Taylor.
The Abilene Transition Center is a place where young adults can get help in their journey to become self-sufficient, and it has only been officially operating for a year.
"I can't even believe it's been a year already," says Johnny Nguyen.
Nguyen is the program director and has seen over 200 youth receive services in the past year alone, but not without the help of several partnerships, including Hendrick Medical Center who presented the transition center with a check today.
"The center is becoming alive and that's what I've always wanted it to be. It's just like this living breathing place and not just a building or an office," says Nguyen.
It is way more than that and it has afforded youth like Taylor and Flannagan an opportunity they would have never seen coming.
"They helped me get a job, work on my communication skills and get me from place to place when I didn't have a ride," says Flannagan.
Now he has a job at a local hospital and Taylor will soon be off to attain two degrees.
Both young men agree, had they not gone to the Abilene Transition Center, there's only one place they would be.
"Probably be on the street still," says Taylor.
