Michigan Works! West Central hosted its first-ever Dreams to Destinations Youth Forum on March 21, in Big Rapids. The conference was designed to give young adults an experience much like a professional conference. 

Their voices were incorporated into every aspect of the conference. They were sent a survey to offer their preference on what topics were discussed during the conference, and they were offered a choice on which conference sessions they would attend. 

A total of 22 young adults from several high schools attended the event. Half of the participants were already enrolled into our WIOA Youth or JMG programs. 

Training sessions included workshops on Emotional Intelligence, Self Confidence, Training Options, and Soft and Hard Skills. Participants played a special version of Jenga to see what characteristics their tower was built on. 

Attendees were treated to lunch, while they listened to guest speaker Wendy Wells, Talent Pipeline Coordinator at West Shore Community College. She stressed the importance of accountability in their daily lives and how to build accountability for themselves. 

Before going home, youth were able to participate in a team-building exercise on growing their communication skills and reflecting on their day. 

During the day, youth had a chance to laugh, learn and connect with their peers. We saw youth that are normally quiet, speak up. We saw youth that normally speak up, listen. Participants tried new skills and considered their future. 

At the end of the day, they walked away walked away with new skills and a positive experience. 

For information about the Jobs for Michigan's Graduates program, click here, and for information about our young adult services, click here.