Countywide Afterschool Program Kicks Off First Session Sept. 18
(FLINT, Mich. – Sept. 6, 2017) TeenQuest – a pre-employment and leadership training program designed to help young people navigate today’s competitive job market – has released its 2017-18 schedule.
The program will be offered four times this school year, and is open to all students, ages 14-19 in grades 9-12, in Genesee County. The first session will be held from Sept. 18 to Oct. 19 at the following locations:
- Bentley High School, 3-5 p.m.
- International Academy of Flint, 4-6 p.m.
- Northwestern High School, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Southwestern Classical Academy, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Over the course of five weeks, TeenQuest teaches students how to get and keep a job. Teens learn how to write resumes, prepare for interviews and open personal checking/savings accounts. The five-week program also places special emphasis on the development of soft skills including communication, conflict resolution and goal setting.
“These are foundational skills for the workplace, school and home,” said Rhetta Hunyady, Vice President of Education & Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, which administers TeenQuest. “Young people who understand the importance of things like teamwork and conflict resolution are better prepared to excel in the workforce, regardless of their career path or chosen industry.”
Students who graduate from TeenQuest are invited to the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) Job Fair, which connects hundreds of local teens to summer employment each year. In 2017, more than 300 students secured summer jobs with employers including the Flint Children’s Museum, Mott Community College and the Genesee County Parks, just to name a few.
In addition to improving general job readiness, TeenQuest can also have a positive impact on academic performance. In fact, 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.
“We frequently hear from parents who tell us how TeenQuest has helped boost their student’s confidence and motivation,” Hunyady said.
Future TeenQuest sessions will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 30; Jan. 8-Feb. 8; and Feb. 26-March 29.
In addition to the aforementioned schools, participating sites include Atlantis Alternative High School, Beecher High School, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint, Carman Ainsworth High School, Clio High School, Grand Blanc High School, Kearsley High School, Lakeville High School, Linden High School and Swartz Creek High School.
TeenQuest is held two hours a day Monday through Thursday. Registration for the upcoming session ends Sept. 18.
For more information, or to enroll, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/teenquest or call (810) 600-1413.
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, Ruth Mott Foundation, Hagerman Foundation, and other generous funders. To apply or learn more, visit www.flintandgenesee.org/teenquest.