With Ascend, West Michigan Works! provides opportunities for employers to engage with and prepare their future workforce
What is Ascend?
Ascend, powered by West Michigan Works!, provides opportunities for young adults to explore their interests and build important work skills. With help from local employers, youth gain valuable experience, skills, and knowledge to help them prepare for the world of work!
We love participating in this program, we think it is great for giving youth work experience and helping our staff improve their training skills.
Are you a youth looking to join this program?
Work Experiences
Introduce the next generation of workers to your organization! As a work experience employer, you provide the worksite, a meaningful work experience, supervision and general employment guidance.
West Michigan Works! provides support to employers and youth to ensure a successful experience, while employers teach youth job skills specific to their organization. These jobs may not be substitutes for jobs performed by regular employees.
Work experiences provides an opportunity for an organization to complete projects, educate youth about their industry, positively influence youth, develop leadership skills for both employees and youth, contribute to the regional economy, and connect with the community.
Work Experiences are for youth ages 16-24 and are paid for by West Michigan Works!, not employers.
Summer Work Experience
Summer work experiences connect employers with the Ascend Summer Youth Career Readiness program. As well as teaching youth job skills, an employer will partner with Ascend to help youth learn all aspects of maintaining employment — soft skills such as showing up on time, working well with others, following directions, dealing with conflict and money management.
The estimated time commitment for an employer is six to ten weeks to participate in this six-week employment and training opportunity for youth.
Ready to learn more?
Step 1: Complete an interest form.
Step 2: Determine a youth’s summer responsibilities and your scheduling needs, then identify the youth’s supervisor.
Already signed up?
Click Here to find Ascend Worksite Resources.
Fall or Spring Work Experience with MICareer Launch
Train and mentor an Ascend youth program member during the Spring or Fall by facilitating a work experience for a MICareer Launch graduate.
Youth will have completed six weeks of soft skills training, industry focused career exploration and employability training prior to their work experience with you. MICareer Launch graduates are ready to take the first steps on their chosen career path!
MICareer Launch is a six or seven week, 20 hours per week program, paying youth $14 per hour.
Are you ready to help prepare our region’s young adults for success?
Learn more about the benefits of working with MICareer Launch program graduates and how to get started. Email Nicole Lillie at nlillie@westmiworks.org or call (616)-336-8467.
2023 webinar series
West Michigan Works! Presents: Ascend Program Overview with Samantha Salter
West Michigan Works! Presents: The Importance of Mentorship
West Michigan Works! Presents: Youth Barriers to Employment with Ascend
