Kalamazoo RESA (KRESA) and the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network (KYD Network) recently received grant funding for the Young, Employed, Successful (YES) Project. This initiative will bring together young people of color, ages 16 to 24, and three local employers who will work toward creating more inclusive workplaces.

The Kalamazoo-area participants will receive a $1,500 stipend for about 80 hours of work from June 15 to December 31, 2021.

The goals of the YES Project are to create sustainable change in policies and practices within workplaces while increasing participants’ leadership, career skills and civic engagement. The project also aims to increase employers’ ability to maximize the voices of young people of color in their equity efforts, and increase the collaboration between community organizations, employers and youth.

Participants will take part in one virtual roundtable conversation focused on how employers and young people of color can create more inclusive workplace environments. After this roundtable conversation, young adults will be connected to three employer partners to identify ways to improve workplace belonging and satisfaction for young adults of color.