Youth Solutions hosted the 8th Annual Summer Summit in Mount Pleasant, welcoming over 140 Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) specialists, managers, employer partners, and youth from around the state. During the conference, four local leaders were recognized for their outstanding achievements, along with Whirlpool Corporation, a dedicated employer focused on mentoring, training, and upskilling youth.
Summer Summit is Youth Solutions’ annual statewide professional development conference. This three day-long event sets the tone and approach for the upcoming year, allowing Youth Solutions to highlight priorities, provide training and resources, and celebrate the accomplishments of their network. Several JMG specialists were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the success of our Southwest Michigan programs, including:
Corey Sterling, from Benton Harbor High School, received the Living Our Values award for Collaboration and the Sterling Service Award, recognizing his outstanding commitment to community engagement in introducing youth to diverse careers and opportunities.
Anita Jones, from Eau Claire High School, was honored with the Living Our Values award for Excellence, recognizing her relentless pursuit of success and surpassing set goals.
Billy Coleman, from The Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, also received the Living Our Values award for Excellence.
Jocelynne Braddock, from Hartford High School was awarded the JAG High Performer award for her outstanding achievements.
In addition, Whirlpool Corporation was presented with the JMG Impact Award for their transformative mentorship program with Benton Harbor High School JMG students. The impact award is reserved for partners who have made a lasting impact on the JMG program statewide. The Whirlpool mentoring program will serve as a best-in-class example of employer engagement and demonstrates a commitment and investment in the future of our workforce. Whirlpool was also nationally recognized with the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) High Performer award for their significant contributions to youth in Michigan.
“It is a sincere honor to recognize our specialists for their unwavering dedication, who work every day to change the lives of our Michigan youth, and to those employers who recognize their critical role in supporting youth in JMG programs across the state,” said Youth Solutions’ Executive Director Roger Curtis. “This year we honored the team at Whirlpool Corporation, who set the bar exceptionally high for their leadership in mentoring JMG youth. We look forward to continuing our partnership and expanding this great program to other Michigan employers.”
Learn more at http://www.ouryouthsolutions.org/
