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May 1, 2025

The Career Development Conference (CDC) is Youth Solutions’ annual event where youth have the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the year in the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) program. This event highlights workplace skills and knowledge, such as creative problem solving, interview skills, and career preparation. Career-based competitions provide students real-world practice for future employment opportunities while volunteer judges evaluate and offer feedback to our future leaders. Moreover, inspirational speeches and student recognition allow our young people to envision and aspire towards their future careers.

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Join Us!

Be a Volunteer Judge at the 15th Annual Career Development Conference

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This is a great opportunity to make an impact while having a fun and inspiring day.

Thursday, May 1, 2025 • 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Lansing Center - 333 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

(Judging ends at 11:50 am, but we’d love for you to stay for lunch and the afternoon program!)

Perks of Volunteering: 

  • Breakfast & lunch provided

  • A front-row seat to future leaders in action

  • A chance to network and make a difference​

 

        Register as a volunteer by March 28, 2025! 

 

Questions?

Contact Kelsey Leemaster

leemasterk@ouryouthsolutions.org or 269-231-0604

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Event Descriptions

As a volunteer, you'll watch JMG youth shine in competitions like Product Design, Prep to Impress, and Communicate to Create.

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Product Design

Each team will receive the same assortment of everyday items and have 30 minutes to design an innovative product and craft a compelling marketing pitch. When time's up, youth have 3 minutes to showcase their creation and pitch their ideas to you.

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Prep to Impress

This event combines key aspects of career readiness - research, presentation, and interview skills - into a streamlined 12-minute experience for youth. The competitor will showcase their career aspirations, demonstrate professional answers to an individual interview, and receive feedback on their answers.

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Communicate to Create

1-2 youth team members will step into a room, get a close look at a mystery object, and write clear, step-by-step instructions for how to build it. Once they're done, the object gets taken apart, and the other 1-2 team members take over. Their mission? Rebuild the object perfectly - using only their partner's written directions.

See Highlights from 2024!

RJ Hudson GST Michigan Works! Family Lit

RJ Hudson

 

Youth of the Year

GST Michigan Works

Family Literacy Center

2024 Youth of the Year Winners

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August Doerr

 

Alumni of the Year

Capital Area Michigan Works!

Lansing School District

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Sawyer Keene

 

Youth of the Year

Networks Northwest

Cadillac High School

2024 Notable Alumni of the Year Winner

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Sarah Jones-Moody ’21

 

Notable Alumni of the Year

Pershing High School

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

2024 Exemplary Youth of the Year

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2024 First Place
JMG Spotlight Winners

Congratulations to our 2024 JMG Spotlight winners! Their passion for JMG truly showed through their talent and creativity. Watch the 1st place video, submitted by our youth from Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan

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2024 Competitive Event Winners

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New this Year
Sterling Service Award!
Congratulations Corey Sterling
and thank you for your service to youth

Youth Solutions proudly announces the establishment of a new award, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates Sterling Service Award, presented to a JMG specialist or manager to recognize their unwavering commitment and dedication to the JMG program and the youth within their community. It serves as a testament to their years of service and the profound difference they’ve made in the lives of the youth under their mentorship. Corey Sterling, who has dedicated over 12 years to youth in the Benton Harbor High School JMG program was the first to receive the award, named in honor of his service and dedication to the program. 

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Corey Sterling

 

JMG Specialist

Benton Harbor High School

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2024 Keynote Speaker:
Andre Ebron

As a non-profit senior leader, entrepreneur, published author, and passionate educator, Andre has dedicated his career to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our state. His journey, insights, and dedication to driving positive change ignited the youth and empowered them to believe in themselves. 

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