The SOURCE has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Steelcase Foundation to launch a new workforce development program. And in seeking partners, they have chosen to collaborate with AYA Youth Collective
to help young adults who are experiencing instability better navigate the workforce. The SOURCE will provide career readiness, resource navigation, and job placement services to young people who are connected to AYA through housing and/or drop-in services and will leverage The SOURCE’s employer network to provide employment opportunities to program participants.
“We've been navigating this partnership for only a couple of months, and we already know that it is working as intended,” said Lourdes Jordan, SOURCE Program Manager. “Young people need and deserve workplaces that are safe for them. It's exciting to grow the list of employers who are committed to providing a safe work environment for young adults and helping them work through the difficulties that arise in employment, which we know are normal. We are looking forward to combining The SOURCE's capabilities with AYA's wisdom to ensure that the future of our workforce is set up for success and economic stability. We're especially grateful to the Steelcase Foundation—their support is what made this program possible.”
Program participants will complete career aptitude assessments, financial literacy training, social and emotional learning, and other programs that will help them navigate interpersonal relationships and workplace expectations. The SOURCE’s resource navigators will also assist participants in accessing community supports to overcome barriers to employment. Employers who commit to providing employment opportunities will complete employer readiness programming to equip them with the tools they need to support participants and help them reach their full potential.
“Our young people have a desire to work,” said Stephanie Collier, Vice President of Programs for AYA. “They are talented and resilient and will make meaningful contributions to the workplace. Many have also been living in crisis for years and need support to navigate the process of entering the workforce. We are so grateful to be working with a community partner to help us design a program like this, and we’re confident in The SOURCE team to navigate how we can best equip youth for job readiness. They have the expertise, resources, and employer network to help our young people take their next steps along their unique paths toward stability and career success.”
The SOURCE expects to enroll its first participants in the fall. Employers interested in joining the SOURCE network should email info@grsource.org.
To learn more about The SOURCE, visit: www.grsource.org. To learn more about AYA Youth Collective, visit: www.ayayouth.org.