Nestled in the back roads of Waimanalo is a vibrant community of young people committed to learning the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully transition into meaningful careers or higher education. Hawaii Job Corps Center is one of 125 centers in the nation, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, which offers no-cost education to low income men and women ages 16 through 24.

Hawaii Job Corps has countless success stories that are testament not only to the integrity of the program and the potential in all student trainees, but also to the dedication of the employees that teach and train the students. All 105 employees are deeply valued and recognized for their contributions to graduates’ success.

In January 2016, the leadership team made a commitment to further invest in one of their greatest assets by partnering with Blue Zones Project Koolaupoko for employee well-being. Hawaii Job Corps began the Blue Zones Project^® Worksite Pledge, implementing evidence-based best practices to optimize the worksite environment and nudge employees to eat better, move more, increase healthy social interactions, and connect with their personal purpose in life. 

With the support of Center Director Ellen May and other colleagues, Human Resource Manager Jasmine Navarro led her worksite through the Worksite Pledge. When asked about the significance of this work, Navarro explained, “through continuous Blue Zones Project initiatives, both employees and student trainees have the resources and tools here at Hawaii Job Corps to achieve their goals – personally and professionally. We believe in modeling and mentoring healthy habits for our student trainees.”

As a result of their commitment to improving employee well-being, Hawaii Job Corps Center was recently honored as the first Job Corps Center in the nation and fifth organization in Windward Oahu to become a Blue Zones Project Approved™ worksite. 

Hawaii Job Corps achieved Blue Zones Project Approved status by adopting and supporting best practices for promoting well-being, including:

• Organizing Walking Moai Teams, including several student groups that commit to walking together for 10 weeks.
• Identifying walking routes that include distance markers on campus.
• Hosting Purpose Workshops for staff and students to help them find or renew their true purpose.
• Establishing policies to support community volunteer activities for employees during and after work hours.
• Creating an employee garden.
• Hosting a Blue Zones Project Cooking Class for staff and students to learn how to prepare plant-based dishes.
• Encouraging physical activity throughout the workday by providing stand/sit workstations, conducting walking and standing meetings, and instituting micro-breaks for stretching.

Blue Zones Project - Koolaupoko | Facebook

Students and staff celebrated Hawaii Job Corps’ achievement at a momentous ribbon-cutting ceremony last month. This occasion marks the beginning of the perpetual benefits expdected from implementing sustainable changes for better well-being. It’s an investment that long-time, recent, and future employees can be excited about.

“Blue Zone Project has enlightened and motivated staff to adopt life practices to improve our health and well-being,” explained Julie Dugan, Walking Moai Team Member and Business Community and Outreach Manager. “I’m most excited about the encouragement to get moving with our co-workers during the workday and access to healthier food and drink choices in our dining facility,” said Dugan who has been employed by Hawaii Job Corps for 26 years. “Knowing that my employer values my health and work life balance enhances the worksite culture. I am proud to be affiliated with an employer that promotes wellness.”

For more information about Hawaii Job Corps, visit: hawaii.jobcorps.gov.

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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com