West Michigan Works! Alumni Shine at Youth Solutions’ Summer Summit

Each year, Youth Solutions’ Summer Summit brings together Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) specialists, affiliate staff, and partners from across Michigan for professional development, collaboration, and planning for the year ahead. This year, JMG alumni and Youth Advisory Council (YAC) members Iyanni Shyne and America Figueroa had the opportunity to share their experiences with JMG professionals from across the state, offering firsthand insight into the importance of providing youth with consistent support, resources, and a strong sense of community. 

Currently attending college, Iyanni  shared how JMG helped her reconnect with her goals, build confidence in her skills, and engage with the community around her. She also spoke about the importance of consistent engagement with today’s youth and creating regular opportunities for connection and relationship building.

“There’s a de-shelling process that happens when a youth member has been coming to meetings regularly that many of us in our JMG program witness, myself included,” Iyanni shared. “For many of the youth, this is a chance for them to be in a safe and welcoming environment, to discover more of themselves and what they are capable of.”

Reflecting on the opportunity to share her story at Summer Summit, Iyanni said, “Attending Summer Summit and sharing my JMG story with specialists across Michigan meant stepping outside of my comfort zone and stepping into a more authentic version of who I am.”

While Iyanni spoke about the confidence and sense of community she found through JMG, America shared how the program’s continued support has helped her transition from high school to college.

 “My journey with JMG began during my senior year of high school and has continued throughout college,” she said. “Through JMG and its partnership with Michigan Works! and other community organizations, I  received the support and resources I needed to overcome challenges and  pursue my goals.”

One of the challenges America faced was accessing the resources she needed to support her education. Things like a laptop, books, and transportation. America’s JMG specialist worked with her to ensure she had the tools she needed to succeed in college. Along the way, she found opportunities to network, build relationships, become more involved in her community, and strengthen her skills as an advocate, public speaker, and leader. 

Today, America continues to serve as a leader within Muskegon County JMG and hopes her story encourages specialists to recognize the lasting impact they can have on the youth they serve. 

“One of the biggest takeaways I hope every JMG specialist gained from hearing my story and the testimony of Muskegon County is that we have the power to build a community that creates a legacy,” America shared. “We can be a community that changes the world, regardless of the circumstances society may place in our lives.”

For both Iyanni and America, presenting at Summer Summit was another opportunity to step outside their comfort zones,  put the skills they’ve developed through JMG into practice, share their experiences, and give JMG specialists a firsthand look at the impact their work can have.

As members of the YAC, Iyanni and America continue to give back to the JMG community by representing the voices of JMG alumni. Their participation at Summer Summit gave specialists the opportunity to hear directly from former students and see the lasting impact of the relationships, guidance, and the support they provide every day. 

Thank you, Iyanni and America, for representing the Youth Advisory Council and JMG Alumni Network at Summer Summit. Your willingness to share your experiences helps strengthen JMG programs across Michigan and inspires the professionals working each day to support the next generation of youth.