Minnesota Youth@Work

Thousands of young people will get exposure to career pathways

DEED recently awarded $7.3 million in grants that will help an estimated 5,000 young people gain job skills and work experience – as well as introduce them to career pathways. Youth who will benefit from the grants are under-represented in the workforce, economically disadvantaged and at-risk. 

The two-year grants were awarded to 25 organizations statewide through DEED’s Office of Youth Development, which administers youth employment and training programs and services. Here is the complete list. 

For more detail of what types of work these organizations do, here are four funded projects: 

Asian Media Access, $350,000. Asian Media Access proposes Project SUP (Stand Up Participate), which combines multimedia, digital technology and entrepreneurship opportunities for at risk youth of color from 14- 24 years old. Services will include: education support, employment services, job readiness training, vocational skills development with multimedia/digital technology career pathway; and entrepreneurship training. 

Cookie Cart, $253,314. Cookie Cart Teen Employment and Training is a program of work experience and work readiness skills training designed to build employment, life and leadership skills needed for success in future employment. Neighborhood youth are actively involved in business operations within a nonprofit bakery. It’s where bright futures are baking. 

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