Whether it’s finding resources to help young people, spending additional time with youth to help them through a unique problem or working to connect many different employers to their youth, collaboration and the power of partnerships help more young people succeed. This month, we would like to shine a spotlight on two specialists who received the Living Our Values Award for Collaboration at this year’s professional development conference, Dominque Clay and Pranvera Myftiu.
Meet Dominque Clay
Out of School Specialist at Michigan Works! GST Service Center
Why did you become a JMG Specialist? I love to help others and when the opportunity arose to become a Specialist, I excitedly accepted! I want to be the person that I never had around me as a child. Being able to help support our youth by assisting them with accomplishing their goals and dreams and just being there for them is, to me, one of the best things in the world!
What inspires you about your job?
My team helps inspire me! We are all very creative in our own way and when we put our ideas together, great things happen!
Recall a favorite memory about being a specialist.
One of my favorite memories is when I was finally able to get one of my youth into 160 Driving Academy. He was so happy to be there and to learn what it took to become a CDL-A driver. He is always so grateful for the work we did together. When he tells his friends, they end up wanting to join JMG and start their new career paths.
What is one of the greatest challenges you face in your job?
One of the greatest challenges I face is finding creative ways to keep youth engaged and creating that buy-in piece.
What is one of the greatest highlights/joys of your job?
One of the greatest highlights is getting to meet new youth that are interested in joining our program and helping them achieve goals that they never thought they could accomplish.
Why do you think JMG is so important for youth?
JMG is crucial for our youth because, without us, they would slip through the cracks and be left in that confused and worrisome state of, what do I do/what should I do?
Share your hobbies, do you have any pets, what do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I love to create! Painting and baking are my top 2 things that I love to do. I also enjoy writing and reading. I have 3 cats, they are all from the same litter, 1 girl and 2 boys. I love fall and winter, I don't care for summer, spring is fine.