Our Story
Building Brighter Futures
At Youth Solutions, our story is one of growth, innovation, and unwavering commitment to Michigan’s youth. Since launching Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates in 2008, we’ve expanded from serving 76 students at Benton Harbor High School to impacting thousands statewide through career-connected learning and workforce development. From forming our nonprofit in 2017 to introducing groundbreaking services like YS Foundations and Connecting Careers to the Core, every milestone reflects our mission: to inspire and equip young people for success in education, employment, and life.
2008
The Beginning
Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) launches at Benton Harbor High School, serving 76 youth as Michigan’s affiliate of Jobs for America’s Graduates.
2013
Statewide Expansion
The State of Michigan approves a $1 million proof-of-concept grant, enabling JMG to partner with all 16 Michigan Works! agencies and expand services statewide.
2017
Youth Solutions is Formed
Youth Solutions becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with its own Board of Directors, broadening its mission to deliver career-focused education and workforce development.
2021
Transforming Schools
Youth Solutions begins piloting YS Foundations as a service to aid schools in developing sustainable career development services.
2024
Empowering Educators
Connecting Careers to the Core, an innovative professional development, is introduced as a way to guide educators into integrating career-focused education into their classrooms.
2025
The Next Step
Building on the fundamentals of the JMG program, Youth Solutions introduces STEP (Support, Teach, Empower, and Prepare), the first-ever classroom-ready curriculum that integrates career exploration into general education settings for all students.
2026
Today, Youth Solutions partners with over 90 Michigan schools and other youth-serving organizations and is projected to serve nearly 15,000 Michigan youth through 144 Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates programs and 19 YS Foundations schools.