A lot of people talk about change and how it can be good. Then, there’s the team of change agents at Kinexus who not only talk about change, they live it, create it, and make it happen.
Thanks to the Kinexus initiative called Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, Benton Harbor High School will actually double the number of youth served by their programming this school year. Thanks also to a partnership with Youth Solutions, that expansion will enable 100 high school students — literally 15-percent of the total school population — to receive targeted employability skills training aimed at successful high school completion and transition into employment.
Dr. Shelly Walker is Superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools, and she’s convinced. She says, “I believe Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates has made a significant impact on our students over the past years, helping to ensure successful graduation and establishing a long-term focus on college and employment. We could not be more excited that the program has selected Benton Harbor Schools as an expansion site. We look forward to having twice as many students benefit from the program this school year.”
Benton Harbor High School students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to participate in the program. All program participants will receive employability skills training thanks to:
- A nationally recognized curriculum…
- Adult mentoring and support…
- Career exposure and awareness…
- Basic skills remediation…
- Assistance with post-graduation transition into employment and/or post-secondary education…
- Access to employment opportunities
The students will be formally inducted into the program on Friday, October 27th at 9:00am in the Benton Harbor High School Performing Arts Center, in a program which is open to the public. State Representative Kim LaSata will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.
Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) programming started at Benton Harbor High School in 2008 by Kinexus. The impact of the program on participant graduation rates at Benton Harbor has been remarkable. For the past three years, 100-percent of JMG senior year participants have graduated from high school and 97-percent have gone on to positive outcomes including employment, post-secondary education, and/or the military.
The success at Benton Harbor High School has fueled rapid expansion across the state. In nine years, the program has expanded from one Benton Harbor class to serving nearly 2,700 young people across 42 Michigan cities.
State Rep LaSata says, “As a former educator, I was immediately impressed by the phenomenal outcomes Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates has achieved for Southwest Michigan’s young people in their nine years of operation. Last year, 99-percent of JMG seniors graduated and 84-percent went on to positive outcomes, including employment and/or further education. With such exceptional outcomes, it made great sense to expand programming in Southwest Michigan to benefit even more young people. I couldn’t be more pleased this expansion is resulting in greater access for Benton Harbor-area youth to education and employment training, which will ultimately benefit our regional economy.”
Expansion at Benton Harbor High School was also made by possible by increased financial support from Governor Rick Snyder, State Budget Director Al Pscholka, the State of Michigan’s Talent Investment Agency, as well as legislative support from State Representative Kim LaSata and State Senator John Proos.
Statewide performance outcomes from the Class of 2016 include a 95-percent graduation rate and more than 88-percent positive outcomes rate, to include successful transition into employment, post-secondary education, and/or the military.
State Senator John Proos says, “I have been a proud supporter of Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates programming since the very first program launched at Benton Harbor High School. In engaging with the youth served by this program, I have been impressed by their focus on the next steps following graduation, particularly their readiness for employment. I am pleased that the legislature, in partnership with TED, has been able to provide additional resources to support JMG expansion. Even more so, I am proud that these resources will support students and employers in Southwest Michigan.”
Youth Solutions, Inc. is a premier youth opportunity organization. Its leading program, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, delivers employability and education services to nearly 2,700 young people across more than 40 cities. For more information about Youth Solutions, Inc. or to become a partner, you can visit the website at www.ouryouthsolutions.org. You can also follow along on Twitter at JobsforMIGrads or “like” them on Facebook at JobsforMichigansGraduates.
