McDonald takes over as community business liaison at Gary Job Corps

JD McDonald’s biggest goal at Gary Job Corps is to make a difference  

McDonald, who is GJC’s new Business Community Liaison, wants to mentor young students. He hopes to help them find success after their time at Gary Job Corp. 

“I came here because I want to make a difference,” McDonald said. “I want to be able to help. Because of my empathy for people and for young students to see them succeed, it’s been one of the most amazing things in my life because somebody did that for me. I’m seeing the things that I had to go through and so I’m able to connect and understand where the students are and being able to develop them.” 

McDonald, 39, grew up in Nacogdoches but later moved to Austin, where he graduated from Johnston High School. He spent four years in the Army. He recently graduated with his doctorate degree from Concordia University in Portland, Ore. 

McDonald says his empathy for people comes from those who’ve helped him. 

“I would definitely say I had a lot of ministers and pastors that kind of led me along the way,” he said. “And then teachers and professors have helped me along the way as well. So, it’s kind of like having those bread crumbs to kind of lead you and guide you where you need to be.”

McDonald first got into education during his time as a music producer. He was producing music for a group young performers when they told him they needed a music teacher.

“(Their charter school in Austin) needed someone to teach music but they hadn’t started the program yet,” McDonald said. “It was second nature to me and the next thing you now I’ve been in education ever since then. I love it.” 

McDonald joined Gary Job Corpsfive months ago. GJC offers no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 to 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training, five months ago. 

“I believe Gary’s one of those institutions that helps students complete and exceed their dreams,” McDonald said. “(GJC presents) things that they’ve never seen before, helping them out with opportunities they never had. That’s what I’ve seen. And I know this, I’ve seen people graduate and do great jobs and go into great jobs and go get their bachelor’s degrees and some come back and help out at the actual center. I can see that that’s the essence of knowing that you have those amazing stories of completion.”

McDonald began working as an instructor at GJC. But in his new role as community business liaison, he wants to continue to build on the strong relationship between the local community and Gary Job Corps. 

“(The community) loves what we’re doing,” McDonald said. “This is the word that’s been passed on. They love what we’ve been doing, helping these students. I always talk about the growth mindset … You know, sometimes people have that fixed mindset and you want to help them with their hopes and their dreams and big beliefs, having faith and hoping to get to where they need to be. But just having that growth mindset, extending them to the next level and that’s what I’ve seen by working with the community. I know students can see what’s out there and they can be able to expand to other than where they are right now.”