​

Uncover how the Career Association (CA) within Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG) empowers and inspires youth, nurturing real-world skills and building competencies. Learn effective strategies for implementing the CA, fostering leadership development, and connecting with the Youth Advisory Council. Engage your youth at every level, ensuring they feel a sense of belonging, develop leadership skills, and contribute meaningfully to their JMG program and community.

By implementing the career association within your JMG OOS program, you can LIGHT the fire of belonging and confidence within your youth and inspire them to take ACTION in their lives and communities. This session will dive into the importance of the Career Association in the OOS model and best practices for implementation from the Capital Area Michigan Works!/Lansing School District JMG program. If you attend this session and implement these strategies, you'll have to get those CAMERAs ready to celebrate the great achievements and outcomes of your youth!

JMG Specialists carry the event torch from YS to their programs. As Torchbearers, they have the opportunity to elevate their youth to gold medal standards at JMG events. Discover the why behind events, learn effective planning and preparation strategies, and explore techniques for engaging and motivating youth. Torchbearers will leave with the tools and strategies needed to lead their program and youth to memorable and enriching event experiences.

Join our roundtable session to share and discuss best practices in fund development. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers, brainstorming innovative fundraising ideas to support their programs. This interactive discussion aims to foster creativity and practical solutions for common challenges.

Share best practices and find new solutions to effectively utilizing the JMG Continuous Improvement Rubric. Join your peers to discuss how to create a collaborative culture of improvement and growth while overcoming challenges.

Explore the use of archery as a project-based learning tool! Mackinaw Trail Middle School's JMG program introduced the sport of archery in several delivery formats during the 2023-2024 program year. Without realizing it, students practiced teamwork, leadership, respect, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, empathy, and safety, all on the archery range. The program presented unique opportunities to grow confidence and self-esteem through this life-long Olympic sport.

Beyond the JMG classrooms that focused on an archery unit over winter 2024, physical education classes and woodworking classes also partnered with JMG staff to incorporate this program into their study. After successful implementation in-school through these in-school models, the school system encouraged the addition of this program to their afterschool course offerings. To support the effort, they agreed to offer two paid positions to JMG students who served as co-leaders alongside their JMG Specialist (aka archery coach). Selected students completed a formal application and interview process, each earning their first paying job. This school has already asked this program to return for fall of 2024.

This presentation will cover training, certification, equipment, space constraints, grants, risk management, and partner organizations available to support this effort. The presentation will also address model services, life skills addressed, and curriculum available to support the program

​

Explore the elements of quality career development and its alignment with the mission of Youth Solutions. Delve into practical ways to integrate key elements of career development into your programming through Individual Development Plans (IDP), ensuring all youth are prepared with actionable postsecondary plans. Discover specialized tools designed to support quality career development and guide youth through this transformative process.

Outside by the firepit

​

In this transformative session, participants will explore the crucial connection between trauma-informed care and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) best practices. Attendees will gain valuable insights and practical strategies to foster inclusive environments and practices within their personal lives, professional roles, and organizational cultures. This session is designed for professionals and advocates committed to creating positive, inclusive spaces and fostering resilience through trauma-informed care. Join us to deepen your understanding, expand your toolkit, and take meaningful action toward a more equitable and supportive future.

​

While in-school JMG programs have a built-in population to pull from, out of school (OOS) programs draw from a group of youth who are, by definition, disconnected. The very barriers that make youth eligible for our programs are also barriers to connecting with them to offer assistance in meeting their career goals. We don’t have all the answers, but at West Michigan Works!, we have tried several new ideas this year that have met with some success.

In this session, we will start by defining the challenges found when recruiting OOS participants. We will then review some of the things that we have been trying either regionally or in one of our 7 individual programs, to meet these challenges and the results we have seen from these attempts. We will then provide a structured discussion opportunity for all attendees to share their experiences with recruitment efforts.

Join us for an interactive discussion designed to share best practices and collaboratively address common challenges faced in implementing JMG programs through a direct school partnership. This session will be an opportunity to learn from your peers, share your successes, and develop strategies to overcome obstacles.

This session explores how TalkingPoints can enhance your engagement with youth. TalkingPoints offers real-time translation and user-friendly messaging tools, enabling specialists to effectively reach out, facilitate meaningful conversations, and support youth in their diverse needs. Attendees will learn best practices for sending personalized messages, sharing updates, and providing tailored support, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to use TalkingPoints to simplify communication with youth. Whether you're discovering TalkingPoints for the first time, are new to the platform, or are seeking a refresher, join us to explore how TalkingPoints can transform your communication efforts and make connecting with youth more safe, effective, and efficient!

​

This session explores how TalkingPoints can enhance your engagement with youth. TalkingPoints offers real-time translation and user-friendly messaging tools, enabling specialists to effectively reach out, facilitate meaningful conversations, and support youth in their diverse needs. Attendees will learn best practices for sending personalized messages, sharing updates, and providing tailored support, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to use TalkingPoints to simplify communication with youth. Whether you're discovering TalkingPoints for the first time, are new to the platform, or are seeking a refresher, join us to explore how TalkingPoints can transform your communication efforts and make connecting with youth more safe, effective, and efficient!

Sharing best practices and participant feedback about how I have succeeded and can improve my skills in growing a sense of belonging, fun activities for engaging youth (who don't know/see one another) in the larger program of JMG, building group spaces where they can show up and exercise their voice and choice.

Supporting schools with EDP's, student achievement through Job Shadows, and utilization of leveraged funding. Incorporating student goals into school curriculum while the Career Navigator works alongside the student to remove their barriers to success.

​

​