(FLINT, Mich., Dec. 10, 2013) — The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce is offering a third session of TeenQuest, a pre-employability leadership training program for Genesee County high school students, January 13 through February 13, 2014. The program is designed to help students develop the necessary skills to prepare for a job, get a job and keep a job.
So far this school year, the TeenQuest program has seen a 50 percent increase in enrollment with more than 300 students completing sessions one and two, many of whom are 14 years old high school freshmen. At the same time last year the program had graduated approximately 200 students. Many enrollees have older siblings who have completed the program and secured employment through the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI).
“Area teens are serious about preparing for employment,” said Rhetta Hunyady, Vice President of Education & Training for the Chamber, “and we’re seeing evidence of that at every site where we offer the TeenQuest program.”
Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply to the 2014 SYI Job Fair, and have access to other employment opportunities throughout the year. More than 500 TeenQuest graduates secured summer jobs with area nonprofit agencies through the SYI Job Fair in 2013 and with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources teen summer employment initiative.
To qualify for the TeenQuest program teens must:
- Attend high school in Genesee County (public, private, charter, alternative, home school);
- Currently be 14-18 years old and in grades 9-12 (must meet both age and grade levels in the 2013-14 school year);
- Be willing to commit to attend the program two hours per day after school, Monday-Thursday, over a five-week period;
- Bring a positive attitude and a goal of successfully completing the TeenQuest Program.
Session Three will be offered Monday through Thursday at the following sites: Baker Career Academy from 4 to 6 p.m., Davison High School from 3 to 5 p.m., Grand Blanc High School from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Linden High School from 3 to 5 p.m. and Flint Northwestern High School from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Teens from any high school can apply to attend Session Three at any of the TeenQuest sites. Students do not have to wait for the program to be offered at their school to attend, and TeenQuest programming is not limited to students attending the host school.
To apply, complete the application and return it to:
TeenQuest
C/o Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce
519 S. Saginaw, Suite 200
Flint MI 48502
OR
Fax the application to (810) 600-1463, Attention: Paula Stainbrook
For more information, contact Paula Stainbrook, (810) 600-1413, or email .
About the Summer Youth Initiative and TeenQuest
The Summer Youth Initiative is a program that helps Flint-area teens find paid summer jobs. It’s open to students who’ve completed the TeenQuest afterschool program, which provides pre-employment and leadership training to students ages 14 to 19 to help them succeed in college and the 21st century workplace. Both programs are administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. To apply or learn more, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/teenquest.