MyCITY

To complete the online application, you will need the following information:

• Name and home street address
• Applicant phone number as well as parent/guardian phone number if under the age of 18
• Valid email address (email address must be unique for each applicant and different from the Parent/Guardian email)
• Eligibility documents (see required documents question below) ready for upload to the program application
• Be able to answer questions regarding school status and name of school attending
• Be able to answer questions related to your career interests and plans beyond high school

IMPORTANT: In order for your application to be considered complete, you must also supply required documents, including the applicants valid proof of ID and proof of authorization to work in the US. If these are not readily available, they may be added to the application at a later date. 

A parent/guardian signature is not required during the application process. However, prior to starting a MyCITY season, all participants are required to attend a mandatory orientation. For participant under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must accompany them at orientation. 

• Below are the registration deadlines for upcoming sessions: 

  • MyCITY Fall (Calhoun and Branch counties): 8/28/2025 

  • MyCITY Spring (Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties): 1/5/2026

• All applications must be completed ONLINE. To complete the application, you will need a computer or other device that is connected to the internet. If you need support to complete the application, please reach out to our MyCITY team at 269-775-1660.  
• Only one (1) application may be submitted per applicant. Duplicate applications will be deleted.
• You will find the online application by clicking here.

• You must be age 14-21 as of the start date of the program, and
• You must live within the city of Kalamazoo. Please click here to check the Street Guide Directory.

OR

• You must be age 14-24 as of the start date of the program, and
• You must meet needs-based eligibility requirements as outlined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 

Fall and spring sessions kick off with a 4-week internship prep session. During the prep session participants will earn a stipend for completion of weekly activities, including online modules, workshops and engagement in in-person career training workshops once a week.

During the prep session, participants will have the opportunity to interview for competitive internships with our employer partners. Participants who are matched to internships will continue on into a 7-week internship session. They will be paid to work directly with local employers to gain hands-on work experience. Below are the anticipated dates for our upcoming fall and spring sessions:

• MyCITY Fall 2025 Prep Session: 9/29/2025-10/24/2025 
• MyCITY Fall 2025 Internship Session: 11/3/2025-12/19/2025 
• MyCITY Spring 2026 Prep Session: 2/2/2026-2/27/2026 
• MyCITY Spring 2026 Internship Session: 3/9/2026-4/24/2026 

 
MyCITY summer sessions include two pathways:

• AGES 14-15 | MyCITY Masterclass – participants who are between the ages of 14 and 15 are paid to explore career pathways, engage in goal setting, and complete hand-on work projects for a period of three and half weeks during the summer. Below are the anticipated dates for MyCITY Masterclass in summer 2026: 
  • Masterclass Session 1: 6/22/2026-7/16/2026 
  • Masterclass Session 2: 7/15/2026-8/7/2026 
• AGES 16-24 | MyCITY Internships – participants who are between the ages of 16 and 24, or who have successfully completed an internship in the previous spring session of MyCITY, are eligible to participate in a 7-week paid internship experience with a local employer. Interns must also attend weekly career training workshops with MyCITY staff.  Below are the anticipated dates for MyCITY Internships in the summer of 2026: 
  • MyCITY Internships: 6/22/2026-8/7/2026 

Yes, we ask that all prior participants complete a short registration form to express their interest in upcoming MyCITY seasons. You should receive a unique link to register for the next season of MyCITY via email. The registration form will prompt you to update any information from your previous application. Please contact us if you did not receive your registration form via email. You can reach out to our team at mycity@kresa.org or by phone at (269) 775-1660. 

• No, each person must apply individually 
• Each applicant must have their own email account 

• If you have a smartphone, or a phone with internet access, you may be able to complete the application process using the phone even if you do not have a computer.
• If you wish to apply, but do not have a device and/or access to the internet, please contact the MyCITY team at (269) 775-1660.

All applicants must provide proof of their eligibility to work in the United States, but that does not necessarily mean that a social security card must be submitted. You may provide any of the following documents as proof of authorization to work:

• US Social Security card
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying territory of the US bearing an official seal
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by US State Department
• Certification of Report of Birth issued by US State Department
• US Citizen ID Card
• ID Card for use of a resident citizen in the US
• Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security

If you need financial assistance obtaining eligibility documents, please contact the MyCITY team at (269) 775-1660.

• You can sign up for a free email address through many different email providers such as: Google, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.
• The email address on your application will be the primary way that MyCITY staff will communicate with you after completing the online application, so be sure to check your email inbox often.

Proof of Identity (one of the following):

• Driver’s license (must not be expired)
• ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address
• School ID card with a photograph
• Voter registration card
• US military card or draft record
• Military dependent’s ID card
• US coast guard merchant mariner document card
• Native American tribal document
• Driver’s license issued by Canadian government authority
  • If you are under the age of 18 and unable to present a document listed above, you may provide one of the following:
    • School record or report card
    • Clinic, doctor or hospital record
    • Day care or nursery school record
       

Proof of eligibility to work in the US (one of the following):

• US Social Security card
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying territory of the US bearing an official seal
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by US State Department
• Certification of Report of Birth issued by US State Department
• US Citizen ID Card
• ID Card for use of a resident citizen in the US
• Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security

• If you were born in Kalamazoo County, you may get a copy of your birth certificate from the Kalamazoo County Court House,
• If born in another state, you will find additional information at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm
• If you need financial assistance obtaining eligibility documents, please contact our team at (269) 775-1660.

You will be paid bi-weekly according to the Kalamazoo RESA pay schedule. Specifics regarding pay dates will be provided during the orientations which are scheduled closer to the start date of the program.

Yes, a background check will be conducted on all youth selected to participate in MyCITY.

At minimum, all applicants must submit the online application and the required documents (proof of ID and proof of authorization to work), in order to be considered for MyCITY. Please note that additional information may be required to determine an applicant eligibility. Additional needs may include:

• Attending an in-person “Next Steps” event to evaluate eligibility for equity-focused funding
• Scheduling and completing an aptitude assessment to evaluate eligibility for equity-focused funding
• Supplying additional documents, including income information, proof of age, etc. to evaluate eligibility for equity-focused funding

After an applicant is determined eligible to participate, they will be invited to attend a mandatory orientation prior to starting the next session of MyCITY. If the applicant does not attend orientation, they will not be permitted to participate.

We will contact applicants and parents/guardians via email regarding further steps for participation in programming.

No. Youth will only be paid for hours actually worked. 

No, placement is not guaranteed. Placement will be determined by the number of applicants that submit documentation and a random selection process. MyCITY reserves the right to limit participation based on available employment opportunities.

There may be, but it depends on the number of applicants applying and available positions.

• Email mycity@kresa.org with questions
• Call us at (269) 775-1660 during our business hours:
  • Monday through Thursday, 8am-4:30pm
  • Fridays, 8am-3:30pm