BLACKWELL JOB CORPS CENTER - Laona, Wisconsin

Kady Tabbert

I'll be blunt. You get what you take from this program.

Edit: I was excessively unlucky, and the people in charge did not give us the information we needed. I went in for a program that was closing, and when it closed I was out of luck.

It was fine otherwise. The COVID laws were sucky, but that's over, now. I presume it's a better place to be, now, but it was a bad place to be when you would get nothing out of it.

Anthony Topel

Blackwell Job corps sucks all the students agree that they are being treated as children and not future adults if not adults already the communication on this center is below job site standards and they preach to all the students about how they are training us for the real world jobs. If they were doing so the students wouldn't feel like children they would feel like they have a voice. When I signed up for the program I was miss informed about the citizenship rights we were allowed. All students have no rights just like a minor civilian.

Devin Nelson

Blackwell has its highs but thats nothing compared to the lows, it’s either you go with the flow or get out the water. I do not recommend this center. I firmly stand by every one star left on this. We get micro managed like young children yet they preach about the significance of preparing us for the world as adults. We deserve better! The only good staff here are the ones that have no leeway over the daily life on center. All higher ups here are corrupt and have no understanding of how their actions and decision making will affect the wellbeing and mental health of the student body. We have a “student government” here to vouch for us when needed. heavy emphasis on the quotes because they have no respect for us anyway, When contradicting a decision made they find it disrespectful. Blackwell Job Corps needs a serious reality check, if not a miracle..

Charles Harper

Blackwell Jobcorps is an amazing center that thoroughly trains students in concrete, forestry, masonry, carpentry, or welding. Blackwell Jobcorps offers an extracurricular training area in Wildland Firefighting that stems from the Forestry trade and it's awesome. I'm a graduate of the concrete trade and I'm very grateful to have been a student of this center. I received free food, shelter, education, drivers license, and the priceless support from fellow students and staff. Thank you Mr Flannery

Robert Klitzka

The best thing that could happen to this Job Corps would be if they fired the Director and the Dorm Manager. They are both out of touch with reality. The Director expects the students to live in a military style dorm and the Dorm manager is very rough on the students verbally. Harassment is no way to teach!

Jessi Moffatt

My sons and I toured the facility in February. Thought it would be a great program and oh boy were we deceived. My son joined the program in March and after a month, other students were bullying him, calling him names, making fun of him and threatening him that they were going to cause harm to him. My son was constantly worrying; to have to look over his shoulder. All he wanted to do was to earn his certification in his trade. Job Corps says they have a zero policy for that kind of behavior but they sent the kids home for a weekend and then the students returned. My son ultimately decided that for his mental health it was better to remove himself from the toxic environment so they gave him a ride half way home and said they would ship his items home. They kept all the food and snacks I had purchased him for his dorm room which was at least $125 worth. My son has been trying to reach the counselor he had but now they just ignore him. Don’t get fooled by this program.

Billie

Speaking as a parent, I wouldn't advise you to send your kid to this particular blackwell. My son 17 came here to get the experience he needed before going into a position of interest. He was struggling with some things that were happening within Blackwell. I reached out to the "current" mental health counselor with concerns. Sent emails, left voicemails & most of them weren't returned. The kids go here because they struggled to function in a normal setting. My son included. He had a dramatic event that even happened to him, I reached out to the mental health counselor again to ask about him taking bereavement, and she stated she would see what she could do, then get back to me. I heard nothing back from her. My son had a breakdown, left without permission 6 days after his 18th birthday. He left without anyone knowing. I found out from other students, not anyone employed from blackwell. They gave him 7 days to come back ,not including weekends. He came back on the 6th day, 2 days after finding out he could return. There would be repercussions, but it's was just a setback. 3 days after he returned, they terminated him from the program. Once again, I found out from others at Blackwell. Not Admin. They dropped him off somewhere unknown to me. Because he is now 18, they won't tell me anything. I don't know where my son is, where they dropped him off. What happened in order for him to get kicked out. According to some of the students, the staff at this facility shouldn't be in the positions they were placed. Honestly, from personal experience, I agree. If your child struggles mental health wise, educational wise, etc. Don't bring them here. It will be a mistake. There's a lot that goes on inside these walls that people on the outside don't know about & that's coming from within.

Jerry Exterovich

During my visit I had a chance to meet and speak with the director “Miss Annie”, what an awesome place with a marvelous mission!