Creating Opportunity Through Connection: How Michigan Works! Region 7B Is Building a Culture of Career Development

For many students, high school follows a familiar path. They attend classes each day, participate in activities, and move steadily toward graduation.

For students across the communities served by Michigan Works! Region 7B, however, that journey often looks very different. Many are balancing full-time jobs while trying to earn a diploma. Others have experienced bullying, housing instability, family challenges, or setbacks that made a traditional school environment difficult to navigate. Others arrive carrying responsibilities and life experiences that many adults have not even faced.

Yet one thing remains constant: It is the belief of Michigan Works! Region 7B that every young person deserves the opportunity to build a successful future.

That belief is what makes Michigan Works! Region 7B unique. At the heart of the affiliate's approach is a commitment to making career development more than an occasional activity—it is woven into the culture of the schools and programs they serve. Through strong partnerships, intentional advocacy, and a shared commitment to youth success, Michigan Works! Region 7B creates environments where students are consistently connected to career exploration, postsecondary planning, workforce opportunities, and caring adults who help them navigate their path forward.

That culture comes to life every day through the work of JMG specialists across the region. One example is JMG Specialist and Career Navigator Kristy Schaefer, who serves students across three Alternative Education Academy campuses in Oscoda, Tawas City, and West Branch.

“Unlike traditional schools, our students attend on flexible schedules,” Kristy said. “Some students may only be on campus a few days each week, while others are balancing work and school simultaneously.”

Because of this, building meaningful relationships requires more than simply being present—it requires trust, consistency, and a willingness to meet students where they are. Kristy has embraced that challenge.

Rather than expecting students to fit into a rigid structure, she adapts her approach to their individual needs while maintaining clear expectations and accountability. Students know she is someone they can rely on—whether they need help creating a resume, exploring career options, applying for financial aid, or simply navigating a difficult situation in their personal lives.

Those relationships often become the foundation for growth.

Some students stop by just to check in before heading to work. Others seek guidance as they consider options they never thought were possible. Through those conversations, students begin to see pathways they may not have considered before.

One student, Jalen, didn’t think he had many options available to him. Like many young people, uncertainty about affording college shaped both his outlook and his plans for the future. Through ongoing conversations and encouragement, he began to understand that financial barriers did not have to determine his next steps. Today, he has secured a summer job at the Oscoda Airport, is exploring careers in the skilled trades, and is building a plan for life after high school.

“For the first time, Jalen is recognizing that college or post-secondary training could be an option for him—either now, or in the future,” said Kristy.

While those individual moments matter, they reflect a much broader commitment embraced throughout Michigan Works! Region 7B.

Across the affiliate, specialists work alongside educators, employers, colleges, and community partners to ensure students have meaningful opportunities to explore careers and prepare for life after graduation. In the school communities, that commitment includes employer presentations, reality fairs, college and training provider visits, financial aid workshops, resume-building sessions, digital literacy training, and talent tours that are available to all students—not just those enrolled in JMG. 

The level of collaboration that goes on throughout the schools is key to making these events and activities successful—teachers help promote events, encourage participation, and ensure students have access to opportunities regardless of their attendance schedules. School leadership actively supports career development initiatives. Together, they have built a shared understanding that preparing students for life after graduation is everyone's responsibility.

The results are evident.

Kristy noted that when she first started, one career presentation attracted just three students. 

Today, presentations regularly engage a dozen or more students at each campus, reflecting a growing culture of participation and career exploration.

“I’ve had the honor of supporting our Jobs for Michigan's Graduates specialists and managers across the state, and specifically in Northern Michigan for over 3 years now, and in that time, I've cheered for the Michigan Works! Region 7B team from my desk more times than I can count. I've watched them welcome me in, commit to their JMG programs and use their strengths to make JMG their own, and then actually see the impact of their programs,” shared Meagan Staton, Youth Solutions’ Manager of Program Success for northern Michigan JMG programs.

That commitment to leadership was recognized this year when JMG Managers Lori Friend and Amber Davies were named the JMG Outstanding Managers of the Year. The award recognizes managers who consistently demonstrate exceptional leadership, advance the JMG mission, and ensure the delivery of high-quality programming across their teams. Their servant leadership has helped cultivate the collaborative culture and strong partnerships that continue to expand opportunities for young people across Region 7B.

“From the frontlines to the Executive Director, they show up for each other, they roll their sleeves up, they dig into the work and tackle challenges with no hesitation, and they go all in as fierce advocates for their community,” said Meagan.

For Michigan Works! Region 7B, success is not defined by a single event or one remarkable story. It is reflected in the systems they have built, the partnerships they have cultivated, and the opportunities they create every day for young people who need them most.

Through advocacy, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in youth potential, they continue to demonstrate what is possible when career development becomes part of a community's culture.