YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED (Y.O.U.) PROVIDES THE LARGEST ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 14-24 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION EXCLUSIVELY FOCUSED ON YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. EACH YEAR, Y.O.U. HELPS NEARLY 5,000 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES SUCCEED BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND ACCESS TO CAREER PATHWAYS. ALL Y.O.U. PROGRAMS INCLUDE FOUR CORE ELEMENTS: CAREER EXPLORATION, ACCESS TO PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, JOB-READINESS TRAINING, AND MENTORING FROM A CARING ADULT. Y.O.U.'S WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS EMPLOY MORE THAN 1,600 TEENS ANNUALLY AND ARE PROVEN TO INCREASE GRADUATION RATES, IMPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND REDUCE INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH GAIN HANDS-ON, WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT EXPOSE THEM TO CAREER OF INTEREST WHILE THEY BUILD CONFIDENCE AND REAL-WORLD SKILLS. PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION IS CONSISTENTLY STRONG WITH A NET PROMOTER SCORE CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDING 40, REFLECTING THAT MOST YOUTH WOULD ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM TO THEIR PEERS, A BENCHMARK OF HIGH-QUALITY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT. THE SCHOOL-BASED JOBS FOR OHIO'S GRADUATES (JOG) PROGRAM, SERVING MORE THAN 350 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR, IS OFFERED AS A FOR-CREDIT CLASS ACROSS MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS, FOCUSES ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE LEARNING, AND LEADERSHIP. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, JOG HAS ACHIEVED A 92% GRADUATION RATE AND A 91% POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS RATE, DEMONSTRATING ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CREDENTIAL TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT. COMPLEMENTING JOG, THE PLANNING AND CAREER EXPLORATION (PACE) PROGRAM REACHES MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH CAREER READINESS LESSONS, INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING, AND CONNECTIONS TO PAID WORK EXPERIENCES, ENSURING THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH A CLEAR, ACTIONABLE PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE. THROUGH LAUNCH, Y.O.U. SERVES AS THE LEADER AND CONVENER OF A YOUNG ADULT WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 18-24 WHO ARE NOT IN SCHOOL AND ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. Y.O.U. COORDINATES SERVICES AMONG PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS. Y.O.U.'S IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING CONSISTENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THIS SYSTEM, HELPING YOUNG ADULTS EARN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, SECURE EMPLOYMENT ALIGNED WITH THEIR CAREER GOALS, AND ADVANCE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO'S WORKFORCE.