How can Delaware students prepare for life after high school? State Sen. Nicole Poore, President of Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG), joins Matt Ford and Ashley Rice on Good Morning Delaware to talk about career readiness, education, and opportunities for young people across the First State.
The conversation explores how JDG helps students think through their next steps, from college and job training to entering the workforce, and how families and local employers can get involved.
What Is Jobs for Delaware Graduates?
Founded in 1979 under then-Gov. Pete du Pont, Jobs for Delaware Graduates is a Delaware nonprofit with a mission to help students achieve academic, career, personal, and social success. Its motto sums it up: Educate. Empower. Employ.
Educate. Empower. Employ.
Jobs for Delaware Graduates motto
JDG has helped more than 115,000 Delaware students build the skills they need for school and work. Its model also inspired Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), a national network that now serves young people in dozens of states.
Jobs for Delaware Graduates by the Numbers
1979
Year JDG was founded in Delaware
115,000+
Delaware students helped
95.7%
Graduation rate across the national JAG network
5 Ways Jobs for Delaware Graduates Helps Students
1. Preparing for Graduation and Life After High School
JDG’s high school program helps students prepare for adulthood through career development, civic awareness, and support with finding their next step after graduation. A middle school program starts building leadership and life skills even earlier, so students head into high school with more confidence.
2. Exploring Career Paths and Building Workplace Skills
Students explore different career paths and practice the skills employers look for. Through JDG’s work-based learning, including the C.O.R.E. Internship Program, students pair classroom instruction with real job training at partner businesses.
3. Connecting Students with Local Businesses and Employers
Local employers are a big part of the JDG model. The organization works with Delaware businesses on job training, internships, and job placement, giving students real-world experience and giving employers a pipeline of motivated young talent. Businesses interested in partnering can reach out to JDG directly.
4. Helping Families Connect with the Program
Families play a key role in a student’s success. Parents and guardians can contact JDG to learn whether the program is offered at their student’s school and how to get started.
5. Supporting Students at the Fall Fundraiser
JDG’s upcoming fundraising event takes place Thursday, October 29, 2026. According to JDG’s website, the JDG Uncorked Fall Fundraiser runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bardea in Wilmington. It’s a chance for the community to support the programs that help Delaware students plan for their futures.
Why Career Readiness Matters for Delaware Students
Programs like JDG give students a clear path from the classroom to the next chapter of their lives. Across the national JAG network, participants have a 95.7% graduation rate, and graduates are more likely to be employed full time and twice as likely to attend college as their peers.
For students who aren’t sure what comes after graduation, that kind of guidance can make all the difference, whether their next step is college, job training, or their first full-time job.
Jobs for Delaware Graduates FAQ
Who leads Jobs for Delaware Graduates?
State Sen. Nicole Poore serves as President of Jobs for Delaware Graduates.
When is the JDG fall fundraiser?
According to JDG’s website, the JDG Uncorked Fall Fundraiser is Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bardea in Wilmington.
How can Delaware employers get involved?
Delaware businesses can partner with JDG to offer internships, job training, and job placement opportunities for students. Visit the JDG website to connect with the team.
Learn More About Jobs for Delaware Graduates
To explore JDG’s programs, become a business partner, or support the fall fundraiser, visit jobsdegrads.org.
Watch the full interview above, and catch up on the rest of the show in our Good Morning Delaware live recap, featuring breast cancer screening tips and Halloween drinks.
What advice would you give a student preparing for their first job? Share it in the comments, and subscribe to DETV on YouTube for more Good Morning Delaware conversations with the people shaping the First State.
