Southwest Talent Development Successes Honored by State Leaders, Workforce Experts

Southwest Talent Development Successes Honored by State Leaders, Workforce Experts 

Lawmakers Celebrate Local Talent, Career Development Efforts in Southwest Michigan 

LANSING, MI (March 24, 2022) — Southwest Michigan talent development and employment successes were among those celebrated by state leaders at the Michigan Works! Association Impact Awards this week. 

Lawmakers and statewide talent development officials gathered virtually, and in-person, on Thursday, March 24 to recognize local resident Jazmine Carpenter, YWCA Kalamazoo, Southwest Child Care Resources, as well as Michigan Works! Southwest for developing a local talent pipeline initiative into early childhood education careers.   

Jazmine Carpenter was enrolled in Michigan Works! Southwest WIOA Youth Services in Kalamazoo County on December 14, 2020. Her career goal was to obtain employment in early childhood education. However, her previous experience was in food service, so she was unsure how to proceed to make her dreams come true. 

After she enrolled with WIOA Youth Services through Michigan Works! Southwest (Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU)), her career coach, Brandi Herrell, helped her identify her challenges to success and overcome those barriers. These barriers included being a parenting youth, having no driver’s license, lack of transportation,  lack of interview clothing and appropriate work clothing, difficulty in developing and improving her self-esteem, lack of self-advocacy and leadership skills, difficulty applying for higher positions within organizations, and issues related to navigating difficult conversations in the workplace. 

Carpenter has since secured daycare, participated in a seven-week virtual paid internship through Young Professionals programming to gain work experience, obtained and prepared for a professional interview, moved into more secure housing, and obtained interview clothes. She obtained her drivers’ license, has shown signs of an improved self-esteem, began advocating for herself and others, developed leadership skills, and continues to improve on navigating difficult conversations in the workplace. 

While working with Herrell, her Career Coach, toward the next step in her career, there was a local initiative for developing a talent pipeline into early childhood education careers. As the employer, the YWCA began apprenticeship training Carpenter when she was hired in April 2021, and she started using her new skills when the center officially opened in September 2021. 

Carpenter was quickly transitioned to a Lead Teacher position at the YWCA in August 2021. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, she will hold the nationally recognized CDA Certificate and the U.S. Department of Labor Early Childhood Education Certificate. She will also have nine experiential college credits through the Early Childhood Education Program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College as an incentive to continue her education and earn an Associate degree in the career pathway. 

"My greatest dream and career goal in life is to open my own Head Start/Daycare facility,” said Carpenter. “To do that, I knew I needed to get a degree in Early Childhood Education. I love to think about how I can positively influence future generations of children to reach for their dreams and become the next generation of artists, political representatives, and even mentors and teachers like the people at Youth Opportunities Unlimited.  I want children to see people who look like them and know they too can believe their dreams are possible. I want all voices to be equitably heard and that they make a difference. This opportunity with the YWCA, and the support I continue to receive along the way from mentors at YWCA and YOU, have brough my dream to life!” 

The Impact Awards, hosted by Michigan Works! Association, recognizes the workforce development success being achieved in communities across Michigan. During the event, local lawmakers presented tributes to dozens of honorees, including employers, workers, Michigan Works! organizations, and partners from across the state. 

“Congratulations to Jazmine on her dedication to overcoming barriers to achieve her career goals and find her dream job,” said Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo). “Thank you to Michigan Works! Southwest and YWCA Kalamazoo for providing Jazmine with this wonderful opportunity.” 

“I commend Michigan Works! Southwest on being a great community partner who is always looking for innovative ways to help residents find training and career opportunities,” said state Rep. Julie M. Rogers (D-Kalamazoo). “This is a win for students, employers, neighborhood organizations, and our community as a whole.” 

The Michigan Works! Association is a non-profit membership organization that provides services and support to Michigan’s talent eco-system. For over 30 years, the Association has been the go-to resource for federal, state, and local workforce initiatives.  

The Association’s work ensures top-quality services and support for Michigan’s talent pipeline. For more information, please visit michiganworks.org.  

Find the nearest Michigan Works! American Job Center by visiting https://www.michiganworks.org/michigan-works-network or by calling (1-800) 285-WORKS (9675). 

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