Kristin Harrington loves when kids win. As a recent 40 Under 40 award winning recipient herself she said the one “superpower” she wishes she could have would be the ability “to slow down time.” After reigning over the 9th Annual Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates Career Development Conference last week and witnessing first hand the sheer joy and inspiration fostered by the competition and camaraderie of that conference in Lansing, she no doubt would prefer to actually freeze time to revel in all that was good last Thursday.
Harrington tells us that approximately 250 students from across the state joined more than 100 employers, community volunteers, and key stakeholders in Lansing to compete in events showcasing employability and leadership skills. Students from River Rouge High School, Starkweather Academy, and Hartford High School took home the day’s top honors.
The annual CDC is a capstone of Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates’ (JMG) year-long programming, allowing students the opportunity to demonstrate employability skills learned throughout the program. During the event, volunteers from across the state judged employment-inspired competitive events, such as interviewing skills, problem solving, and public speaking, all aimed at preparing students for the workplace. JMG, a program of Youth Solutions, Inc., headed up by Harrington, equips young people with the skills needed to overcome barriers and ensures Michigan’s youth win in education, employment, and as citizens. JMG is building a youth talent pipeline from high school graduation into employment for more than 2,900 young people across 43 Michigan cities.
According to Harrington, who is Executive Director of Youth Solutions, the future for Michigan’s youth is filled with opportunity, energy, and promise. In her opening remarks, Harrington commented on her satisfaction in knowing “Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates has created a comprehensive and collaborative way for young people to ‘win,’ with outcomes and impact that have laid a crucial foundation for Michigan’s talent re-awakening.” Those outcomes include a 98-percent statewide graduation rate and 71-percent of graduates going onto employment.
Harrington sited a robust partnership with the State’s Department of Talent and Economic Development (TED), most recently around Governor Snyder’s “Marshall Plan for Talent,” as a crucial partnership in the ongoing success of JMG programming.
In five years of collaboration, JMG and TED have increased the number of students served through JMG programming by 600-percent – from 400 young people to over 2,900. TED Director Roger Curtis accepted the “Advocate of the Year” Award on behalf of the Department.
Commenting on the successful partnership, Director Curtis said, “Michigan’s young people are our next generation of talent, and it’s important we invest in their success. Programs like Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates help ensure students have access to explore, and learn the skills needed for, high-demand and good-paying careers across the state. And when we talk about investing in programs that build a 21st century talent pool ready to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs that will be open in the future, we’re talking about programs like JMG and their proven track record of success.”
During the event, AAA Michigan – The Auto Club Group — was also honored for their above-and-beyond commitment to youth talent development as “Employer Champion of the Year.” Most recently, the company offered more than 100 JMG students workplace mentoring opportunities. In his acceptance of the award, Keith Mobley, Director of Corporate Contributions and Community Relations at AAA Michigan noted, “We are honored and humbled to receive this award. It is simply our culture to look for opportunities that we can be more involved with the community and give assistance where it is certainly needed.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit received the “Outstanding Partner of the Year” award for their commitment to supporting education, workforce, and mentoring programs for JMG youth. In acceptance of the award, Jeannine Gant, CEO, said, “We are really excited about what is going on in Michigan right now and the opportunity that youth have to find meaningful livelihoods.”
Other event recognitions included the “Student Leader of the Year” Award to DeAnthony Purnell of Flint and “Alumna of the Year” to Natasha Rzanca of Marquette. Purnell is a current program leader, recognized for his over 33 hours of community service, attendance at all employer-led talent tours, leadership role in the classroom, and ability to maintain employment while participating in a number of student groups. Rzanca is a 2015 graduate of Gwinn High School and JMG alum who has stayed closely connected to the program. Since graduating, Rzanca has balanced full-time post- secondary education and employment, been promoted at her job, and obtained an Emergency Medical Technician certificate. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Northern Michigan University.
Winners by event category included:
Interview Skills – Individual Award: Rebecca Long (Windover High School) and Tiffany Middleton (Woodcreek Achievement Center),1stPlace; Jade Palmer (Starkweather Academy) and Aaron Washington (Covenant House Academy-Detroit), 2nd Place; Nolan Hensen (Flint Southwestern) and Tamara Cody (Covenant House), 3rd Place.
JMG Bowl – Team Award: River Rouge High School, 1st Place; Windover High School, 2ndPlace; Escanaba High School, 3rd Place.
Public Speaking – Individual Award: Doncor Archie (Starkweather Academy) and Jonathan Gonzalez (SER Metro Detroit), 1st Place; Thomas Moscardelli (Starkweather Academy) and Faith Sams (Woodcreek Achievement Center), 2nd Place; Harmony Nelson (Starkweather Academy) and Hannah Wyman (West Michigan Works!), 3rd Place.
Product Marketing – Individual Award: Rosita Alonso (Hartford High School) and Jashawn Gaines (Kinexus Bridge Academy), 1st Place; Tavon Hale (Cody – Detroit Institute of Technology College Prep High School) and Aaron Washington (Covenant House Academy-Detroit), 2nd Place; Doncor Archie (Starkweather Academy) and Tamara Cody (Covenant House Academy-Detroit), 3rd Place.
Creative Problem Solving – Team Award: Hartford High School and Michigan Works! Southeast, 1st Place; Southeast Michigan Community Alliance and Osborn High School, 2nd Place; River Rouge High School and Waverly High School, 3rd Place.
Team Building – Team Award: River Rouge High School and Waverly High School, 1st Place; Hartford High School and West Michigan Works!, 2nd Place; Starkweather Academy and SER Metro Detroit, 3rd Place.
Chapter Marketing Event – Team Award: Hartford High School, 1st Place; River Rouge High School, 2ndPlace; Hartford Alternative Education and Woodcreek Achievement Center, 3rd Place.
The event was made possible thanks to sponsorships by:
- State of Michigan Talent Investment Agency
- State of Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Kinexus
- Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)
Additionally, Michigan Works! partners play a leading role in the program with special recognition to:
- Capital Area Michigan Works!
- GST Michigan Works!
- Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
- West Michigan Works!
- Michigan Works! Southeast
- Michigan Works! Southwest
- Upward Talent
- Networks Northwest
- Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium
- SEMCA
- Michigan Works! Association.
Youth Solutions, Inc. is a premier youth opportunity organization. Their leading program, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, delivers employability and education services to over 2,900 young people across 40+ cities. For more information about Youth Solutions, Inc. or to become a partner, you can visit online at www.ouryouthsolutions.org, follow along on Twitter at JobsforMIGrads, or “like” them on Facebook at JobsforMichigansGraduates.
