• Programs

  • Career Coaching

    Our career pathway exploration and planning programs are available on a year-round basis. Get paired with a career coach to develop your employability skills, explore career paths, land work experience at a local job site and much more.

  • YOU Fall and Winter Programming

    We offer two career development opportunities:  A  4-week, paid, internship prep session and an extended 7 week, paid, internship opportunity.  Participants receive career exploration support and hands on work experience.

  • MyCITY

    MyCITY is a summer youth employment program that serves as the gateway to paid internship and work experience. Participants spend seven weeks of their summer developing their soft skills, networking with community employers, exploring career interests and options, and working at community job sites. This program is open to City of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Albion residents.

  • MyCITY 2Gen

    MyCITY 2Gen is a paid career exploration and pathway planning program for Kalamazoo families. During this 9- week program, youth ages 14-17 and an adult in their household will explore their strengths, set goals, learn about opportunities in the community, and build a network of support with other families. 

  • CareerNOW

    As a career pathway model, CareerNOW is designed to assist individuals with not only obtaining certification and employment but also to develop a plan for continuation in post-secondary education leading to careers in industries with in-demand occupations.

  • Bridging Opportunities

    This program fills 25 young people’s summer hours with productive activities such as paid work experience, educational support activities, community beautification projects, and career exploration in an effort to reduce juvenile crime rates in the City of Kalamazoo.

  • On-site Education

    We have an on-site classroom at YOUHQ, where students can get reconnected with their high school education and earn a diploma and/or recover credits while still in school. We partner with all nine Kalamazoo County school districts and offer GED testing in our service centers in neighboring counties.

  • Michigan Works! Southwest

    YOU is a partner agency of Michigan Works! Southwest, which helps to prepare a qualified workforce that meets the needs of emerging needs of business and industry. We have service centers in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, St. Joseph and Branch counties.

  • Summer Programs

    Our summer programs are a great way for youth between the ages 14-21 to get paid internship experience, job skills training, and networking experience with local employers.