------------------------------
1. 8 Strategies for Attracting and Retaining a Qualified Youth Workforce
Reaching the minds of today’s youth requires more than just tuning in to the latest radio station. It also requires more than knowing the latest clothing line and the latest dance. Today’s youth have a much broader world prospective than what they are given credit for. For this reason, employers and youth organizations need to delve deeper into the goals and insights of today’s youth in order to gain a better perspective on their concerns and their determined life path.
Employers of youth must revamp their method of engaging youth. It is not enough to simply get a paycheck. This current generation of youth are invested much deeper than the momentary satisfaction of a few dollars every couple of weeks. The youth of today want to have a sense of purpose and passion. They are interested in ways of building purpose while also achieving economic self-sufficiency. The company that succeeds at recruiting and retaining employees under age 26 will have answers and strategies in place to address these concerns. Employers need to tailor their approach to youth by providing more meaningful job experiences, connecting these experiences to enhanced future economic opportunity and developing youth cultural competence to genuinely connect with the passions and purpose of their under 26 workforce.
As a national youth employment expert, Edward DeJesus is uniquely qualified to discuss this generation’s workplace mindset. Edward’s research and work in youth employment and education has helped hundreds of thousands of youth enter and succeed in the workforce. Edward combines his years of research and practice to deliver this high quality, exciting program that produces results.
Attendees who leave 8 Strategies for Attracting and Retaining a Qualified Youth Workforce will able to:
- Understand the workplace beliefs, preferences, and priorities of today’s youth.
- Communicate a message about the importance of attendance, punctuality and other key workforce behaviors without saying a word.
- Create a workplace environment where young people excel and add to the bottom line instead of take away from it.
- Develop recruiting campaigns that make your workplace an employer of first resort.
- Reduce turnover and retraining cost by 50% through youth cultural competence.
8 Strategies for Attracting and Retaining a Qualified Youth Workforce is an essential tool for:
- Human Resource Departments and Workforce professionals.
- Franchise Owners
- Executives and Managers
- Job Developers and Case Managers
- Workforce Investment Boards and School Districts
*Available as a 45–60 minute keynote or a 2.5 hour seminar.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. MAKiN iT: The six strategies for success for today’s young employees
Presenting a message that emphasizes the value of work and continuous improvement to today’s youth employees is Edward’s specialty. By defining the ages of 14-26 as the MAKiN iT years vice the wealth building years, Edward delivers a presentation that encourages youth to look beyond present earning potential, and more towards investing in the development of credentials, skills, networks, and degrees.
Edward challenges youth to think outside the box and provides them with tips on how to use every opportunity as a vehicle for building upon the skills that they currently possess. The message is designed to get youth excited about enhancing their future economic value, and to keep them focused more on their future while they operate in the present. This method taps into the concerns of youth about their place in the world and the ability to maintain stability in their lives on an economic level and has proven to be an effective means of communication with youth.
Attendees leave MAKiN iT: The six strategies for success for today’s young employees able to:
- Understand the difference between the MAKiN iT and wealth-building years.
- Learn how to develop a plan to succeed in the workplace.
- Develop their adult cultural competence.
- Improve ability to deal with supervisors and customers.
The MAKiN iT Seminar is ideal for:
- New hires
- Young professionals
- Employee leadership programs
- Managers-in-training
- Soon-to-be graduates
*Available as a 45–60 minute keynote or a 2.5 hour seminar.
-------------------------------------------
1. Reach All Youth
In this inspiring program, Edward shares his personal story of what it took for him to develop the skills to reach all youth. He reveals specific front-line tested strategies and actions that every educator and youth worker can use to have a more lasting, meaningful impact on their students. All attendees—from first-year teachers to seasoned administrators—leave this high-energy, emotional keynote feeling good about themselves, their profession, and inspired about the difference they make.
Attendees leave Reach All Youth able to:
- Understand the difference between development and engagement.
- Identify the skills needed to improve ability to engage youth.
- Recognize the importance of continuous improvement and skills building.
Reach All Youth is ideal for:
- Opening of closing general sessions of Education/Youth Development conferences.
- Professional development programs.
- Foundations or Corporations interested in reaching hard to serve youth.
*Available as a 45–60 minute keynote or a 2.5 hour seminar.
2. Countering the Urban Influence: 6 Things Educators/Youth Workers Need to Know About
This instructional program offers attendees the opportunity to evaluate what necessary steps must be taken to get America’s youth back on track with education and labor force participation. The message is dynamic, and is delivered in a style that many have described as “life changing.” Edward reveals the skills necessary for organizations and individuals interested in promoting the importance of education and work.
Attendees leave Countering the Urban Influence able to:
- Develop a new methodology for addressing anti-achievement actions, beliefs and values.
- Identify and address the “forces” that limit the future economic opportunities of youth and young adults.
- Create a school or workplace culture of achievement.
- Responsibly use the power of youth popular culture.
- Understand the importance of involving youth.
Countering the Urban Influence is ideal for:
- Education conferences.
- Youth Development Conferences.
- Parent associations
- Employers
*Available as a 45–60 minute keynote or a 2.5 hour seminar.
3. Engaging Hard to Engage Students
In depth research has proven that traditional youth development strategies are not enough to capture and sustain youth program participation. Many youth programs are dying on the vine, virtually living on life support. The problem is that young people, disinterested by these antiquated methods, are pulling the plug. The alternative to non-involvement in these programs is a generation of lost youth who are deprived of the opportunity to be an effective and productive part of their communities. After working on-site at some of the toughest schools and youth programs, Edward has developed a unique strategy for connecting with and motivating hard-to-reach students. His methods are sound and proven effective, leaving youth with a more energized outlook on their future.
Attendees leave Engaging Hard to Engage Students able to:
- Understand youth cultural competence and how it is best used to engage youth.
- Move from a “Word of Mouth” model to an “Evidence of Engagement.”
- Learn the 6 Connecting Points for out of school youth.
Engaging Hard to Engage Students is ideal for:
- Conferences and summits for school leaders with hard-to-reach student populations.
- In-services and professional development programs focused on best practices for serving hard-to-reach students.
- Grant funded initiatives designed to help hard-to-reach students.
*Available as a 45–60 minute keynote or a 2.5 hour seminar.
------------------------------------------
1. MAKiN iT Day
Edward’s signature 6 hour program, MAKiN’ iT Day’s main goal is to develop a school/program climate of achievement and purpose by addressing the negative information and examples that affects youths' future. Participants engage in experiential, high energy activities centered on the importance of MAKiN’ good decisions about life, education, and career development. At the end of the MAKiN’ iT Day, participants reported leaving with a new sense of motivation, a reinforced support network and the skills to successfully complete school and enter the workforce. MAKiN’ iT Day doesn’t end there, Edward and his team provides schools and programs with the additional tools to sustain the impact of the program throughout the year.
Attendees leave MAKiN iT Day able to:
- Understand the meaning of “True Survival.”
- Understand the five components of Future Economic Opportunity.
- Develop the skills to address negative influences.
- Understand the importance of academic preparation and workforce readiness.
MAKiN iT Day is ideal for:
- Schools
- Youth Programs
- Juvenile Justice Facilities
- Job Cops Centers
2. Your FEO Years
Many schools and youth programs are only realizing marginal success at helping youth complete their education, prepare for jobs, and improve their level of academic performance. Communicating a message about the importance of education and work experience has been difficult, to say the least. Part of the problem lies in the fact youth don’t realize the importance of education and work experience to their economic future. The years of ages 14-26 are a young person’s “FEO” years, not wealth-building years.
During “FEO” years, youth should focus on understanding and gaining 5 key elements of FEO (Future Economic Opportunity):
- Skills
- Credentials
- Experiences
- Positive Support Networks
- Degrees
Attendees leave FEO Years able to:
- Identify the elements of FEO.
- Develop a FEO building plan.
- Learn how to create a culture that values FEO.
FEO Years is ideal for:
- Schools
- Youth Programs
- Juvenile Justice Facilities
- Job Cops Centers
(This program is available as a 45 to 60 minute keynote or up to 2.5 hour seminar.) |
