Arkansas NAACP speaks out against Job Corps closings
Video: Career counselor at Little Rock Job Corps says federal pause on operations nationwide leaves students with nowhere to go
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The NAACP in Arkansas is calling for immediate action in response to the closing of Job Corps centers in the state.
The NAACP Arkansas State Conference, along with the NAACP Little Rock Branch, NAACP Sebastian County Branch, and NAACP St. Francis Branch, referred to the centers as 'vital' in a statement released on Thursday.
Job Corps closing hits home with Little Rock families
NAACP officials said the shuttering of key facilities has impacted thousands of young Arkansans, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds, cutting them off from critical career training and life development resources.
'The closures directly threaten the future of workforce readiness, educational access, and economic stability across the state,' officials said.
Labor Department suspends Job Corps centers operations, drawing bipartisan pushback
NAACP Arkansas State Conference president Barry Jefferson said the closings are a move in the wrong direction.
'The decision to close these centers is more than just a budgetary move — it is a betrayal of our youth and our communities,' Jefferson said. 'Job Corps has served as a foundation of opportunity for decades. Stripping that away, especially in underserved areas, is a step backward for Arkansas.'
The U.S. Department of Labor has been closing Job Corps centers nationwide in a 'phased pause,' citing low graduation rates and a high number of incident reports. Closing the Little Rock center left many young people with no alternative but to turn to area shelters.
Little Rock shelters see an uptick amid Job Corps pause
NAACP officials said its branches are mobilizing public advocacy efforts and calling on stakeholders, including local officials, educators and business leaders, to demand a reversal of the closures.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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