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Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates Students Meet With Legislators in Lansing

Students from four Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) programs in northern Michigan participated in the JMG Legislative Day February 13 in Lansing. The students are involved with JMG programs in the Char-Em ISD, the Traverse Bay Area (TBA) ISD Career-Tech Center, the Wexford-Missaukee Career-Tech Center, and a Career Readiness program at Northwest Michigan Works! in Manistee. The seven students met with eight different legislators or staff members. The topics they discussed included the importance of the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program, the need for Career & Technical Education Centers, and bridging the gap of skilled trade workers. 

The Char-Em ISD students attending the Legislative Day were Kaylee Cochran from East Jordan and Callie Keiser from Pellston, both seniors in the ISD’s Welding program. The TBA students attending were juniors, Dylan Bertram and Reece O’Donnell. Both attend Traverse City West High School and are in the TBA Career-Tech Center’s Automotive Technology program. Wexford-Missaukee CTC students attending the event were Lake City junior Justina Russell, who is in the CTC’s Hospitality, Retailing, and Entrepreneurship program; and Cadillac Junior Maggie Staub from the CTC’s Agriscience program. James Schoedel, a GED student from the Manistee Career Readiness program also attended the event.

While they were in Lansing the students met with Senator Wayne Schmidt and Senator Darwin Booher’s staff. The students also met with Representatives Lee Chatfield, Tristan Cole, Michelle Hoitenga, Larry Inman, Daire Rendon, and Curt Vanderwall.

Northwest Michigan Works! coordinates JMG programs at the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, the Traverse Bay Area ISD Career-Tech Center, the Wexford-Missaukee Career Tech Center, and a Career Readiness program at Northwest Michigan Works! in Manistee.

Jobs for Michigan's Graduates is the leading program of Youth Solutions, Inc., a premiere youth opportunity organization on a mission to equip young people with the skills to overcome barriers and win in education, employment, and as citizens. Youth Solutions is the state-based affiliate of the national Jobs for America's Graduates organization (jag.org), one of the largest and most successful school-to-work systems in the United States. The JMG model consists of a comprehensive set of services designed to help young people achieve education and career goals. For more information on Youth Solutions and its Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates programming, visit ouryouthsolutions.org. 

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- Ty Wessell, Leelanau County Commissioner