Youth Opportunities Unlimited of Cleveland, Ohio

To celebrate National Intern Day, we want to shout out Y.O.U.’s internship program. Every year, Youth Opportunities Unlimited connects high school students grades 10-12 with an internship specializing in their career choice. Beyond the work experience, there are additional opportunities to earn credentials to further their learning.

Owen here is an intern at Mika Metal Fabricating in Willoughby. Watch our video on our blog to learn more about Owen’s experience!
https://www.youcle.org/stories/2024/7/intern-spotlight-owen-at-mika-metal-fabricating

Intern Spotlight: Owen at Mika Metal Fabricating — Youth Opportunities Unlimited July 25, 2024 | By Dani Young An intern at Mika Metal Fabricating in Willoughby, Owen does a variety of work including organization, IT and engineering. He is especially proud of how much he has improved with the CAD software. Owen has learned a lot about the manufacturing process, which will

We are incredibly proud of the first ever graduates of our Pharmacy Technician Program! Available to 18-24 year olds through our Pathways to Careers initiative, the ten participants earned job readiness skills and credential training. In collaboration with CVS Health, the participants spent two weeks at the Workforce Innovation and Talent Center in Cleveland, which features a classroom and mock store to put their skills to the test. They then had the opportunity to work in a local CVS location, where many will be able to extend beyond the program.

Congratulations to our graduates — we can’t wait to see how far you’ll go!

At our 14th Annual Austin Carr Celebrity Golf Invitational on Monday, the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show hosted their broadcast live from Quail Hollow. During their show, they spoke with a few special guests, including Cleveland Cavaliers legend Austin Carr, Y.O.U. participant Juan Perez and Y.O.U. President and CEO Craig Dorn. Watch the clip of Juan and Craig here: https://youtu.be/KRuN5jPzbQo

CEO Craig Dorn & Youth Opportunities Unlimited is making a HUGE impact in the greater Cleveland area Craig Dorn, President & CEO of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, talks about the impact of the program, why he partnered with Cleveland Cavaliers legend Austin ...

In honor of World Youth Skills Day, Youth Opportunities Unlimited is proud to play a role in preparing teens and young adults for a meaningful future. Our many workforce development programs provide hands-on experiences as youth learn career readiness skills. We look forward to many more years of unlimited opportunities.

These Y.O.U. participants are spending their summer working with Argonaut to clean up the Edgewater Marina. The teens learn special skills, earn a paycheck and make a positive impact on their community. These are just one of the many unique experiences available through our Summer Youth Employment Program.

https://www.youcle.org/stories/2024/7/learn-more-about-the-2024-marketing-academy-participants

Learn More About the 2024 Marketing Academy Participants — Youth Opportunities Unlimited One of the many programs offered through our Summer Youth Employment Program is the Marketing Academy. In partnership with the City of Cleveland, this seven-week paid program offers a hands-on learning experience where youth gain skills in writing, design, photography, branding and more. Through

Our youth at Richmond Heights recently volunteered at the monthly drive-through food pantry held at the Community Center. Our Public Service Academy offers participants the chance to rotate through five departments within the City of Richmond Heights – Fire, Police, Recreation, Service and the Mayor’s Office. Throughout the summer, these teens will experience a unique inside look at the many government public service careers.

We're very excited to introduce our 2024 Marketing Academy! Over the summer, these youth will be learning the ins-and-outs of the marketing industry, gaining skills in writing, design, coding and more. They'll be working on a variety of projects, including creating content for our official Y.O.U. channels! Learn more about our ten participants in our blog and be sure to keep an eye out for their next creation 🎨📷📝

Shoutout to the newest participants of our Pathways to Careers Construction Program! These young adults will spend the next months learning the construction trade with hands-on experience and training.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited is proud to be named a 2024 Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer 🏅Based entirely on employee surveys, we are honored to make the Top Workplaces list two years in a row.

🏅Tomorrow (June 21) is the last day to submit nominations for the 2024 Brenda Stark Award! Consider nominating an extraordinary frontline youth development worker from the Northeast Ohio nonprofit sector. The application is available at https://bit.ly/brendastarkaward2024

Nominations Now Open for the 2024 Brenda Stark Award — Youth Opportunities Unlimited Recognize an extraordinary front-line youth development worker in Northeast Ohio

Today, we pause to honor and celebrate Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history. On this day in 1865, the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of the long journey towards freedom, justice, and equality. As we reflect on this day, Youth Opportunities Unlimited reaffirms our commitment to promoting equity, inclusion, and opportunities for all youth.

Our office will be closed today as we join the nation in commemorating this important milestone. Let’s use this day to educate ourselves, support Black communities, and strive for a future where freedom and justice are realities for everyone.

Earlier today, we held our kickoff event for Building Great Futures, a joint initiative between Y.O.U. and Habitat for Humanity, Greater Cleveland. Now in its seventh year, eight teens will spend the summer learning about construction and rehabilitating two houses.

🌞 Exciting News! 🌞

Youth Opportunities Unlimited is thrilled to announce the start of our Summer Youth Employment Program! 🌟

Starting today, just over 1700 young people in our community will have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, develop new skills, and build a brighter future. Our program offers:

✅ Paid Work Experience

✅ Financial Literacy Training

✅ Mentorship and year-round follow-up

Join us in celebrating the incredible potential of our youth by looking back on last year in pictures! 🎉 Together, we’re building a stronger, more empowered community.

🔗Stay tuned to our social channels for exciting stories and updates on the summer work experiences!

With that, the 2023-24 JOG season has come to an end 🎓 Eight CMSD schools — including Lincoln-West School of Global Studies — recently held their End of Year Celebrations for the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates Program. Students spent the year learning crucial career readiness skills as they prepare for success after high school. Check out our blog post for more info!

Local Schools Celebrate Their 2024 Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates Participants — Youth Opportunities Unlimited With another school year in the books, eight schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District recently celebrated their Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) program participants. Taught by Y.O.U.’s full-time Career Specialist Instructors, JOG is an in-school career development course that promot...

Recently, Max S. Hayes High School celebrated their End of Year ceremony for the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates. In this in-school program, students learn crucial career development skills needed for post-high school success. Congrats!

We had such a great time marching in the Cleveland Pride Parade on Saturday as we celebrated the vibrancy of the LGBTQIA+ community 🏳️‍🌈

Happy from Y.O.U.! Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our organization and we fully support and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community 🏳️‍🌈

Keep an eye out as we’ll be marching in the Pride Parade today in downtown Cleveland!

☀️ Can you believe it’s almost here? Orientations for our Summer Program start tomorrow and will run all week. Our staff is ready to assist over 1800 youth as they complete all necessary paperwork to begin their on June 17!

“Be a leader, not a follower. Trust yourself and be a positive influence.” These wise words resonated with the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates at John Marshall School of Civic and Business Leadership during their End of Year Celebration. Congratulations on completing this program 🎉

Don’t forget applications are now open for the 2024 Brenda Stark Award! Nominate an extraordinary youth development worker from the Northeast Ohio nonprofit sector. Applications are available at https://bit.ly/brendastarkaward2024 through June 21.

Nominations Now Open for the 2024 Brenda Stark Award — Youth Opportunities Unlimited Recognize an extraordinary front-line youth development worker in Northeast Ohio

Honoring Our Heroes This Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness ensure the freedoms we enjoy every day.

At Youth Opportunities Unlimited, we are committed to empowering the next generation to carry forward the values these heroes fought to protect. As we enjoy time with our loved ones today, let’s also reflect on the profound legacy of service and sacrifice.

Thank you to all who have served and to those who continue to protect our freedoms. We honor you today and always.

“Embrace failure as a stepping stone, be confident and overcome imposter syndrome.” These were all advice given to the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates at Warrensville High School as they commemorated their End of Year Celebration. We’re rooting for you!

Over the past two weekends, our participants attended orientation to prepare for their 120-hour summer internships in their chosen career fields. The sessions included paperwork, setting expectations, and networking with peers. Participants also practiced their elevator speeches in preparation for meeting their mentors.

East Tech High School recently hosted their End of Year Celebration from the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates program. Congrats to all the students for completing this program!

As the school year wraps up, many local schools have their End of Year Celebrations for the Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates. This in-school program focuses on career development and skills needed for post-high school success. All students receive their Certificate of Mastery showing they are "job ready". Take a look back at the celebration at Glenville High School - CMSD!

At Youth Opportunities Unlimited, our mission is simple: to empower teens and young adults for successful entry into the workforce, fostering career growth, and achieving economic self-sufficiency.

Junior and Marquane exemplified this mission through their summer jobs, where they gained valuable construction skills at Habitat for Humanity. Join us in shaping the next workforce-ready generation.

Donate here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/662480099061952/

In this , we highlight Roshonda Smith, a dedicated board member of , who has recently returned from weeks of international travel as a German Marshall Fund Fellow.

Roshonda shared with us her newfound appreciation for fostering transatlantic relations. She underscores the pivotal role that young people play as leaders, raising awareness and actively engaging in international politics. Read more in YOU Stories on our website.

https://www.youcle.org/stories/roshonda-gmf