Let's Go Meet the Neighbors: Community Builder Spotlight
COMMUNITY BUILDER SPOTLIGHT: Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Mission: The mission of Youth Opportunities Unlimited is to prepare teens and young adults to become economically self-sufficient contributors to building Northeast Ohio’s educated, skilled, and inclusive workforce.
Origin Story: Y.O.U. was founded in 1982 when Mayor George Voinovich rallied support from top business and nonprofit leaders to ensure that the youth of Cleveland have summer job opportunities. He emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships, and Y.O.U. was formed. Y.O.U. would become one of the first public/private partnerships in the city of Cleveland—an approach that would become a hallmark of Voinovich’s career.
Clientele: Y.O.U. serves youth and young adults, ages 14-24.
Affiliations/Partnerships: Y.O.U. is a standalone organization with many community partnerships throughout Northeast Ohio (there are other Youth Opportunities Unlimited organizations in other cities, but they aren’t affiliated with each other). Y.O.U. says they thrive because of their partnerships. They rely on local businesses and nearly 100 community organizations to employ Cleveland youth. Some of their partners include the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the MyCom network of youth-serving nonprofits, and Cuyahoga County.
Staff/Team: Y.O.U. has more than 100 staff members throughout the year. They grow to more than 150 April through August with temporary staff delivering the Summer Youth Employment Program. We also work with a committed board of directors and many dedicated volunteers.
Location: Y.O.U. headquarters is in downtown Cleveland inside The Halle Building at 1228 Euclid Avenue, Ste. 200.
The future of YOU: Y.O.U. envisions a just and equitable community where every young person is ready and confidently pursuing a meaningful future. They hope to increase the capacity of their programs so they can get more teens and young adults working and in careers they love.
How you can help this community builder succeed: You can help Y.O.U. by donating, volunteering, and employing Cleveland’s youth.
How to get in touch with YOU: The contact information for Youth Opportunities Unlimited is below.
