Hartford High School JMG Students Lead With Service

Watch Hartford JMG’s commitment to community service here.

At Hartford High School, community service isn’t just an activity — it’s the heart of the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) program. As Jocelynne Gordon, JMG specialist for the Harford program, shares, “Community service is very much the cornerstone of what we do.”

Through hands-on, student-led projects, Hartford JMG youth are learning work-based skills, building confidence, and making a real impact in their community.

Service Rooted in Real Needs

Each year, students organize projects that respond directly to challenges in their community, including:

• Three annual blood drives

• Clothing and food drives

• Anti-bullying efforts like purchasing books and handing out “Kindness is Cool” bracelets to elementary students

  
  

These projects give youth the chance to plan, lead, and collaborate — learning responsibility, communication, and problem-solving along the way.

Supporting Seniors Through “Rake a Difference”

A favorite tradition for Hartford students is participating in United Way of Southwest Michigan’s Rake a Difference, where they spend a day raking yards for senior citizens. It’s tough work, but also deeply meaningful.

Students say it’s an experience they’ll “cherish forever,” especially after seeing the gratitude of the seniors they help.

A Culture of Belief and Belonging

Highlighting the impact of Gordon’s leadership, Lily Goodson, Vice President of Hartford’s JMG Career Association, shares: “She makes it a point to connect with our community and help us take pride in the impact we make. I can look back and say, ‘I did something here that made a real, positive change.’ That is something that kids will never forget, and we get the opportunity to do that here in JMG.”

Much of this sense of purpose stems from Gordon’s dedication to creating a supportive, empowering space. She greets her students daily with “Dumela,” a South African greeting meaning “I believe in you. I affirm you. I see the great potential in you.”

That culture inspires students to take initiative, work together, and see themselves as capable of making change — big or small.

Youth Making a Lasting Difference

“By engaging in community service, my students discover what it means to help others and contribute to something larger than themselves. They see firsthand how even small acts can create meaningful, tangible change,” Gordon shares.

These experiences leave a lasting impression, showing students that making a difference in their community also shapes their own growth, confidence, and future.