Inspiring Futures at the 2024 Young Men and the Workforce Event

This year’s event brought together about 50 high school juniors and seniors to explore career opportunities, develop professional skills, and connect with local business leaders.

On Friday, December 6th, the Loose Center in Linden was buzzing with energy as we hosted this year’s Young Men and the Workforce event. Despite the snowy weather, which caused the postponement of the Young Women and the Workforce event originally scheduled for Thursday, the young men of Fenton, Lake Fenton, and Linden High Schools showed up eager to learn and engage.

This year’s event brought together about 50 high school juniors and seniors to explore career opportunities, develop professional skills, and connect with local business leaders.

A Day Full of Learning and Engagement

The day began with inspiring keynote speaker, Tracy Ramin, who shared their career journeys and advice on navigating life after high school and what opportunities can arise from a near death experience.

They covered topics like professional development, personal branding, and turning aspirations into action.

After the morning sessions, students participated in an engaging team-building activity. Using a box of random items, they developed a product, created a business plan, and delivered a 1-minute commercial to their peers and industry professionals. This hands-on exercise fostered creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking—key skills for any career path.

Mentorship and Real-World Connections

One of the most valuable aspects of the event was the guidance provided by local industry professionals who served as table facilitators. These mentors offered insights from their fields and encouraged students to think about their futures. Over the years, several facilitators have become mentors or employers for students they’ve met through these events, building lasting and meaningful connections.

Financial Literacy for the Future

After lunch, students participated in a short but impactful session on credit and debit management. This essential lesson highlighted the importance of financial literacy as they prepare for adulthood, giving them practical tools to navigate personal finances.

Save the Date for the Rescheduled Young Women and the Workforce Event

If you have a high school junior or senior girl, we encourage you to keep an eye out for the Young Women and the Workforce event, which has been rescheduled for the spring due to Thursday’s snow day. Like its counterpart, this program is designed to inspire and empower students as they prepare for life beyond high school.

Reflections and Gratitude

We are so grateful for the support of our volunteers, sponsors, and local businesses who make these events possible. It’s always inspiring to see the impact this program has on students—hearing from past participants who credit it with shaping their career paths reaffirms why we do this work.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Young Men and the Workforce event a success! We can’t wait to see what’s next for these incredible students.