Meet the 2021 Summer Youth Initiative Employers

Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) continues, in spite of the challenges presented by the pandemic. SYI applicants will have the opportunity to interview for summer jobs at a variety of local businesses and organizations that have created safe environments.

“We have many organizations and businesses ready to hire teens through our SYI program,” says James Avery, program director of Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. “With the pandemic top of mind, we have worked closely with employers to ensure a safe environment for our students.”

The Flint & Genesee Education & Talent division is closely monitoring and complying with guidance provided by local, state and federal partners including the Genesee County Health Department, State of Michigan and Centers for Disease and Control.

Employers such as the Chosen Few Arts Council have been practicing safety protocols since last year. Co-founder Valorie Horton says this contributed to their organization having a positive experience during last year’s SYI as the protocols helped to ensure everyone stayed safe.

“With COVID, we had to make sure everyone social distanced and masked up, which was new to us and the students, but they worked very well with it,” says Horton. “After last year’s program, we hired two of our students full time for our School Year Day Camp.  The student worked directly with the youth as monitors, while continuing to use our COVID-19 safety procedures.”

Other employers for the 2021 SYI include:

• Asbury Community Development
• Beecher Community School District
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint
• NESK Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties
• Clio Area Schools
• Communities First
• Flint Children’s Museum
• Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative (FFSC)
• Flint Housing Commission
• Flint Public Library
• Flint River Watershed
• Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
• GCCARD
• Genesee County Parks
• Goodwill Industries
• Grand Blanc Parks
• International Academy of Flint
• John L Group
• Michigan Community Services, Inc.
• Motherly Intercession
• Mott Community College
• NEH (Neighborhood Engagement Hub)
• Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village
• The Disability Network

SYI allows Genesee County students to gain work experience and training as well as the opportunity to learn valuable social skills and make connections that could directly lead them to their dream job.

For more information on Summer Youth Initiative, visit FlintandGenesee.org/SYI.

TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative are made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.