Community Education

Registration for TeenQuest Pre-Employment Program Now Underway

TeenQuest – a pre-employment and leadership training program designed to prepare young people for success in the 21st-century workplace – has released its 2018-19 schedule. Enrollment is open to all students, ages 14-19 in grades 9-12, in Genesee County.

The five-week program, offered four times during the school year, focuses on developing the skills to secure and keep a job. Hands-on activities promote key soft skills including communication, goal setting and conflict resolution. Participants also learn how to write resumes, prepare for interviews and open personal checking/savings accounts.

“TeenQuest provides Genesee County teens with a solid foundation to start their job search,” said James Avery, director of Education & Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. “It gives them the tools and, more importantly, the confidence to stand out to employers.”

Every April, TeenQuest graduates are invited to the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) Job Fair, where they can interview for employment with local businesses and organizations. In 2018, nearly 400 students secured summer jobs with SYI employers including the Flint Public Library, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Genesee County Parks. According to Avery, older TeenQuest and SYI alumni can now be found in a variety of industries and careers, including education, law enforcement and finances.

In addition to improving general job readiness, TeenQuest can have a positive impact in other areas of life. In a 2014 evaluation from the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, 75 percent of parents reported that their student’s school performance improved following their participation in TeenQuest. Additionally, many parents have reported seeing improved confidence in their students.
“After our oldest daughter went through TeenQuest, we noticed that she became more assertive,” said James Richardson, father of three TeenQuest alumni. “She was more willing to speak with her teachers, versus my wife calling them for her. She started taking on that responsibility herself.”

Looking forward, TeenQuest’s first session will be held at the following locations from Sept. 17-Oct. 18:
• Genesee STEM Academy, 4-6 p.m.
• Genesee High School, 3-5 p.m.
• Grand Blanc High School, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
• Hamady High School, 3-5 p.m.
• International Academy of Flint, 4-6 p.m.
• Southwestern High School, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Future TeenQuest sessions will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 29, Jan. 7-Feb. 7 and Feb. 18-March 21.

In addition to the aforementioned schools, participating sites include Atherton High School, Beecher High School, Bendle High School, Bentley High School, Boys & Girls Club, Carman Ainsworth High School, Carman Park Baker Career Academy, Clio High School, Davison High School, Hamady High School, Kearsley High School, Lakeville Highschool, Linden High School, Madison Academy and Swartz Creek High School.
TeenQuest is held two hours a day Monday through Thursday. Registration for the next session ends Sept. 17.
For more information, or to enroll, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/teenquest or call (810) 600-1413.

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