Y.O.U. Stories
Y.O.U. Case Managers Committed to Young Adults
Y.O.U. Case Managers play a very important role in our work: They are among the first people a young adult meets when he or she engages with our organization. Their empathy and knowledge of our programs, young adults’ lives, and the opportunities we can make available to them play a critical role in their success.
Gallery Owner Connects Youth to Neighborhood
Our Summer Youth Employment Program is more than just a summer job. It’s an experience. Youth are matched with business mentors in our community who expose them to career paths, teach them to carry themselves as young professionals, and provide them with opportunities to learn to thrive in the workplace.
New Pathway to a Great Career: Customer Care
Y.O.U. is excited to offer a new program for young adults, 18-24 years old. We have partnered with Generation to offer a new career opportunity: Customer Care. Customer Care, a free program, trains future employees on how to provide excellent customer service in many different industries.
Green Teens: CLE Superheroes
Some of Cleveland's finest youth participated this year in the Mayor Frank G. Jackson Summer Youth Employment Program. "Keeping It Green" is a collaboration of teens working in multiple city departments.
Eighth Annual Austin Carr Celebrity Golf Invitational
It was a beautiful day to hit the links at the Eighth Annual Austin Carr Celebrity Golf Invitational, Monday, July 30, at the Beechmont Country Club. A total of 112 golfers enjoyed 18 holes with 24 local celebrities.
Alumni Picnic in the Park
A beautiful evening greeted our guests for the annual Y.O.U. Alumni Picnic, August 2, 2018, at Forest Hills Park in Cleveland Heights. Alumni enjoyed good food, fellowship, and fun! More than 40 alumni of JOG, JUMP, Primetime, and ECITY reunited with their peers, learned about new Y.O.U. programs and career opportunities, and connected with former career coaches and Y.O.U. support staff.
Y.O.U. ProPath Internship Program
Every year area students gain valuable work experience through Y.O.U.’s ProPath Internship Program. This summer 12 youth are interning at five different companies across the city obtaining valuable understanding of careers as diverse as Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Business, Management, & Administration, Health and Science Technology, Arts, and Communication.
Congratulations, E CITY Winners!
Congratulations to E CITY students Re’Allatee Gambrell, Luis Galvan, and Ben Pacheco, recipients of the Charles R. McDonald Award and the David G. Hill Scholarship.
Youth Career Olympics, Creating Endless Opportunities
More than 250 students from Y.O.U.’s school-based program Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) participated in the 2018 Youth Career Olympics (YCO), Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the beautiful Lyndhurst Campus of the Cleveland Clinic. WKYC News Anchor and Reporter Tiffany Tarpley served as the YCO Mistress of Ceremonies at the Victory Celebration, and Monyka S. Price, Chief of Education, City of Cleveland, delivered the keynote address.
E CITY Winner!
Congratulations to this year's E CITY Young Entrepreneur of the Year’s 1st Place winner Mykia Woodard! Mykia is a graduating senior at Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s John Marshall High School. Her idea, "Save A Life," proposes to sell straws that change color when in contact with a narcotic-laced beverage.
Craig Dorn Named President & CEO
Craig Dorn has been named President and CEO of Y.O.U. Formerly a VP with the organization, Craig comes to the table with 20 years of Y.O.U. knowledge, experience, and history. His vision for the organization is to build on the momentum of our past successes with a fresh approach.
E CITY Young Entrepreneur of the Year Competition
E CITY (Entrepreneurship: Connecting, Inspiring & Teaching Youth) teaches youth business, financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills. The primary goal of E CITY is to teach teens how to develop a business plan and also connect youth to employment.
Tell Us Your Y.O.U. Story With SimplyTold
At Y.O.U., one significant aspect of what we do is story sharing. From volunteers to employers to participants, everyone who has worked within Youth Opportunities Unlimited has a story to share – and we want to hear it!
Summer and Year-Round Employment Registration Now OPEN
Cuyahoga County 14 - 24-year-olds can now register for the Summer and Year-Round Employment Program. SYEP finds subsidized and employer-paid jobs and internships for Cuyahoga County youth who need first-time work experiences to serve as a building block to future employment opportunities and an introduction to financial literacy.
Former Prime Time Participant Inspires Maple Heights ECAC High School
After nine years in the U.S. Navy, special recognition from President Barack Obama, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Information System Technician First Class Evan Jackson has come a long way since his days in Y.O.U.’s Prime Time program. Now, armed with real-world knowledge and experience, Evan is giving back to the organization he credits as an integral part of his success.
Starbucks Recognizes Y.O.U. in Project Give Good Campaign
It's not very often that we're surprised by special attention, but that's what Y.O.U. received when Starbucks professionals stopped by the office to present a certificate of recognition in the Project Give Good campaign.
Y.O.U. Winter Alumni Event with the Cavs
The Y.O.U. Winter Alumni Event was a success! Former program participants were treated to dinner, a Cleveland Cavaliers game (and win), and some up close and personal time with Dwyane Wade and the King himself, LeBron James.
What's Your New Year's Resolution?
The crystal ball has dropped, and the three decipherable lines of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ have been sung, which means 2018 is officially here! As you start to make your New Year’s Resolutions, we hope Youth Opportunities Unlimited will be in your plans.
Congratulations, Onyango Pearl! JAG National Competition Winner
Please join us in extending congratulations to Onyango Pearl, who took home top honors at the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) National Leadership Competition. Onyango won first place in the Public Speaking event.
Covelli Enterprise Donates To Y.O.U.
For over three years, Covelli Enterprise (a Panera Bread, O’Charley’s, and Dairy Queen Franchisee) has supported the Y.O.U. mission of connecting teens and young adults to jobs, internships, and credential training. Kimberly Francesangelo recently stopped by Y.O.U.’s office to drop off a donation and explain why Youth Opportunities Unlimited is so essential to Covelli Enterprises.