History

KREA's Career Pathway Planning Programming (formally YOU) has served Southwest Michigan communities since its inception in 1961, when a private donor contributed enough to get the organization up and running. YOU was created to serve at-risk youth in Kalamazoo and was one of the first organizations designed to assist high school dropouts through reconnection to education and employment training. Throughout a 50+ year history, the services available have grown to include both youth and adults and now spans a four-county region of Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties.  

Today, our Career Pathway Planning Programming is a vital piece of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA), helping individuals complete their educations, find employment and thrive in the community. The services provided by KRESA have strengthened individuals to improve their communities through academic enrichment, workforce readiness, and social skills development while empowering them to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, graduates and leaders.