Summer Jobs for Detroit Youth – Apply Now!
The City of Detroit’s highly-successful summer work experience program for Detroit youth ages 14-24 – Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (HDYT) - kicked off last month. The application portal is open at www.GDYT.org and will remain open until May 20, 2022.
8,048 Detroit youth were employed through GDYT during the 2021 program, the seventh straight year of exceeding the program’s target of 8,000. To maintain social distancing protocols, GDYT made more than 6,000 of the 2021 summer opportunities virtual and the program will provide similar accommodations in 2022.
While the target for total GDYT enrollments for 2022 will remain at 8,000, the program will introduce new enhancements for the 2022 program year, including:
Career Pathways Plus, a new GDYT component that recruits, screens, and matches youth with businesses that offer specialized programs designed to prepare youth for occupations within their industry. The goal of this initiative is to place youth on a career pathway with participating companies that leads to permanent employment, high-growth career options and economic self-sufficiency.
Partnership with the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) to allow GDYT youth access to professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a free public service to address any financial challenges and plan for their futures.
During May and June, candidates will be interviewed at a GDYT-sponsored career fair for Career Pathways Internships, Industry-Led Training, and Pre-Apprenticeships, or through a virtual Career Fair. Successful GDYT registered youth will also attend a Youth Orientation where they will receive additional materials regarding timekeeping, benchmark achievements, and the GDYT Handbook. For more information about the youth applicant process, refer to GDYT’s Roadmap to Success at www.GDYT.org.
Detroit youth of the GDYT program paints a garage. Image courtesy of Kimberly P. Mitchell
Process for Successful Youth Applicants
After an individual expresses interest in a summer work experience through GDYT.org, the applicant will be randomly selected through a lottery system. Selected youth must complete all enrollment forms and upload the required documents into the CareerEdge portal. All properly registered GDYT youth will receive a minimum 12 hours of workreadiness training prior to the start of their summer employment.
