An important milestone in any young person’s development is the moment they gain that idea of what they want to do as a career. Understanding how to help young people start thinking about the possibilities, opportunities, and pathways to get there is the aim of summer programs underway at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan.
LaToya Turner is the Director of Life and Workforce Readiness for the Teen Center at the Boys & Girls Club. Part of her role is working directly with teens and young adults through programs that help them focus on their next step — whether that’s the next step in education, occupational experience, or transitioning right into the workforce.
Turner, along with help from others at Boys & Girls Clubs and community partners, is leading their first Life & Workforce 101 program. The program this summer is helping 21 young people from Benton Harbor with career exploration, advice, and guidance on career development.
Turner says the objective of the program is to help young people learn.
“(We’re) opening their horizons to the possibilities of what’s next for them – a lot of them don’t know. So, it’s really just opening their eyes to, ‘Here are the careers that are around us, and here’s how to get there. The sky’s the limit.’ The more you know, the more you grow. That’s the complete objective.”
There are clear requirements that program participants show up on time and dress appropriately. During the seven-week course, the young people are regularly exposed to different occupations from a variety of employers around Southwest Michigan.
So far, guest employers have included the Berrien County Sheriff’s office, the Health Department, the U.S. Army, and a clothing line entrepreneur. Each has talked about the multitude of work roles available, and what kind of experiences, likes, and education make someone a good fit for such roles.
Sherri Ulleg is the VP of Marketing at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Michigan and says career exploration is just the first step.
“The ultimate goal is for (the young people) to create their plan for the future. That starts with career exploration –figuring out what’s out there, being exposed to all the opportunities, and then learning those skills,” said Ulleg.
Turner added, “It’s CDA. C for career exploration; D is develop with skills and certifications; and then A is apply. Apply for the roles you want and apply the skills you’ve learned.”
In early August, the group of 21 will hold a celebration at the conclusion of the program. But Ulleg says the work to focus young people on career ambitions doesn’t stop there. The Club is hosting a Career and Opportunity Fair on July 16 at the Teen Center at 190 W. Empire Avenue in Benton Harbor.
“We want the kids to walk in and feel like there’s opportunity. Not just that, hopefully this opens the door to whatever it is they want to discover or might not even know they want to discover yet,” said Ulleg.
“So many kids are getting directed to college, and we know college isn’t for every kid. There are trade schools available, and there are straight-to-work options for young people where they can build a career starting with that first job. We want them to know what all their opportunities are.”
Ulleg and Turner say they can’t do this alone. They have help from several community partners with both financial support and thought leadership from people willing to share their stories with the young people. Turner says having the area’s major employers talking directly with potential future employees can make a big difference in the lives of young people, and they would like to see more employers reach out and participate.
“Those connections are very important. We love those connections because there’s a lot of things that go on in different companies that kids are not aware of,” said Ulleg. “It’s also a good opportunity for employers to get to know the demographics of the kids in our community. Understanding where our kids are is key. There might be a generational gap and they might not wear a 3-piece suit, but they’re curious, interested, ready to listen, and ready to think about the next step.”
Interested employers can reach out to LaToya Turner for information on how to participate in either the career discovery program or the career fair by calling 269-926-8766 or emailing lturner@bgcbh.org.