The MBK-Ithaca employment pillar focuses on three groups of youth: middle school age, high school age, and youth aged 18-26 years old. You may access the strategic plan and goals for each group below.
Middle school (11-14 years old)
High school (14-18 years old)
Young adults (18-26 years old)
middle school aged youth
- Youth will have regularly scheduled exposure to career opportunities to in demand, living wage industries and occupations. (ex: Water Treatment, Manufacturing).
- These will include hands-on practice and school credit for participation.
- Schools, afterschool programs, and other youth-focused organizations will convey to youth that while college is important, the ultimate goal is employment
- School Guidance Counselors will identify career paths that may not need college and guide students through paths toward various careers
- School staff will coach youth on what to do with results from career interest assessments
- In class, teachers will explain how skills are relevant to job market, career, and job-related tasks
- Teachers will be paid for their time learning from employers how to contextualize lessons
- Schools will offer lesson related to entrepreneurship including basic business and exposure to industries so youth can find their niche market
high school aged youth
- Teens will be matched with mentors with experience in the industry they are interested in.
- Employment programs (i.e. summer employment) will match young adults to job opportunities related to their career interest with meaningful tasks/projects.
- Supervisors will mentor and teach youth staff how to be effective employees.
- After a few seasonal trials, employers will transition young adults to position with growth opportunities.
- Employers will pay college/training expenses for young adult to grow with organization.
- Youth employment programs will provide support for employment including transportation.
- Create opportunities for young adults to work beyond the summer and receive payment and school credit.
- Work and school/training complement each other to reach specific career goal.
- School Guidance Counselors will identify career paths that may not need college and guide students through paths toward various careers.
- School will offer electives relevant to work including business, cosmetology, and personal finance.
- School lessons will include hands-on learning and problem solving.
- School will offer/expand nonjudgmental academic support with clear relevance to employment.
young adults
- Employers are prepared to receive young people, adapting to cultural shifts, and new employment norms and expectations of young adults.
- Employers will invest in young adults by providing training and holistic support.
- Develop list of worksites where young people have had positive experiences.