Y.O.U. Stories
Y.O.U. Youth Help Turn Vacant Lot into a Storybook
Fifteen-year-old Diamond Bottoson, a Y.O.U. summer employee, helped create a pop-up storybook on a vacant lot in Slavic Village.
Y.O.U. Summer Jobs Program Helps Teens Thrive
Like a lot of teenagers, Cameo Moore would probably be working a job in fast food if it weren’t for the Summer Youth Employment Program, run by Cleveland nonprofit Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Instead, the 16-year-old high school rising senior is spending her summer dancing.
JOBS Act an Investment in Workforce Development
Y.O.U. President and CEO Craig Dorn supports the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Tim Kaine. Read his Op Ed in Crain’s Cleveland Business.
Y.O.U. JOG Student Turns Passion into a Career
When 18-year-old Christopher Bonner, a John F. Kennedy High School senior with a passion for cars, enrolled in his school’s Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) program, an elective Y.O.U. offers to area high schools, he didn’t expect much to come of it…until he found a career.
Y.O.U. and Towards Employment Host Sen. Portman to discuss JOBS Act
Y.O.U. and Towards Employment co-hosted a roundtable with U.S. Senator Rob Portman and workforce leaders in our community, who serve young adults, on May 6 at Bloom Bakery, a Towards Employment social venture. The group discussed the “Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students” (JOBS) Act, legislation Sen. Portman introduced with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine.
Students Learn Job Skills at Youth Career Olympics
ideastream’s Lisa Ryan followed students competing in this year’s Youth Career Olympics as they showed off the job skills they learned throughout the school year in the JOG program.
In Memory of Brenda Stark
It is with heavy hearts we share that we have lost our dear friend and colleague Brenda Stark. She was an important and cherished member of our Y.O.U. family for more than 20 years.
15th Annual Youth Career Olympics Showcases Excellence
The Youth Career Olympics, a culmination of everything the students learned in their respective Y.O.U. Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) courses, allowed them to demonstrate to Northeast Ohio employers their maturity, professionalism, dedication to community service, and knowledge of industries in the region.
The Cost of Youth Unemployment
Y.O.U. Participant Recruitment Specialist Toni Arnold-Spikes spends several hours a week connecting Cleveland-area youth with job training, tutoring, and employment opportunities. Here she speaks with ideastream’s Adrian Ma.
Ken Wood: Renewed Interest in Trades Could Help Cleveland Thrive
In the program, Building Great Futures, a collaboration among Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland and Youth Opportunities Unlimited -- teens learn construction skills and get paid to help rehab Habitat homes.
Y.O.U.'s "L.E.D." Team Ensures Our Programs Work for Youth
Let’s start with the basics: L.E.D.
It stands for Learning. Evaluation. Data.
To best understand how this team helps Y.O.U. work to help teens and young adults in Northeast Ohio, let’s break down its name:
In-Demand Jobs Week
In-Demand Jobs Week, March 11 - 15, is a week for individuals seeking work to learn about which companies are hiring, available resources, and ways to obtain skills and certifications to land in-demand jobs in Cuyahoga County.
All events are free and open to the public.
PEEKE – Y.O.U.’s New Internship Program
Y.O.U. will offer a new, selective internship program: PEEKE (Partnerships, Exploration, Experience, Knowledge, Excellence).
The experience will accept 30 high school juniors, who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, live in Cuyahoga County, and wish to learn more about one of their potential career interests and gain professional work experience.
Behind the Scenes: Y.O.U.'s Employer Relations Team
Y.O.U.’s vision is a greater community working together to ensure that every young person is ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency.
One of the ways we work towards realizing this is through our Employer Relations Team.
A person can’t be self-sufficient without an income, and the individuals who comprise this team manage our relationships with hundreds of Northeast Ohio employers. Our employment partners make it possible for the youth we serve to quickly earn some income or pursue a work experience that allows them to learn about a potential career interest through hands-on experience.
How 18-year-old seeking part-time work found ‘a way better job’
Generation is a 5-year-old program started by McKinsey & Co. that partners with employers to train young adults and connect them to the job market. The innovative model operates around the world and came to Cleveland for the first time last year, thanks to the partnership with Y.O.U.
Craig Dorn: Helping Young People Get Summer Jobs. Youth Opportunities Unlimited is helping kids get ahead.
Y.O.U. President & CEO Craig Dorn stopped by WKYC-TV to tell Hollie & Joe how employers can get involved with helping our community’s youth.
JOG recognized for achieving prestigious "5 of 5 Award"
Y.O.U.’s Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates program, offered in 11 area high schools across Northeast Ohio, focuses on employability skills, career development, and leadership skills. JOG helps teens with significant barriers to graduation get on a path to post-secondary success through either permanent employment, college, credential training, or joining the military.
Let's applaud young people who are working for a better life
For many people, the New Year signals a fresh start, an opportunity to begin anew -- only this time, more deliberately, more wisely.
Shanice is 23 years old. She is shy and doesn’t like to talk about herself. But if you press her, she’ll say she's nice and caring, a little bit quiet. She loves people and animals. She is working toward her GED. She has a part-time job.