Career Development and Education
MHYC programs combine paid work experience on community projects with career exploration and education in 6 core areas: healthy lifestyles, independent living, civic education, leadership development, career development, and environmental education. Corpsmembers are engaged in learning activities throughout their time at the Corps and are assisted in accessing college or obtaining employment after their time at Mile High Youth Corps. Our innovative and real world programs and partnerships help youth develop the skills to achieve their career educational goals for responsible and successful adulthood.
How it works: Each week Corpsmembers participate in a minimum of 4 hours of career readiness, lifeskills and educational activities as part of their work week.
Education Program Components:
Leadership Development - Corpsmembers will have various opportunities to become leaders on their crew and in the Corps. Through committee involvement, crew-based leadership positions, and educational experiences, Corpsmembers will be exposed to the skills needed to become leaders for their peers, in their communities, and, most importantly, in their own lives.
Civic Engagement - Through service projects, field trips, guest speakers, and other educational activities, Corpsmembers will be exposed to different ways that they can become involved in and participate positively in their community.
Independent Living - MHYC’s Lifeskills classes provide Corpsmembers with access to skills needed to live prosperous independent lives. Goal planning and setting, money management, stress management, communication, and problem solving, among other skills, will provide Corpsmembers with a skill set to live the life they wish to live. Corpsmembers will also have a basic knowledge on how to access community resources, including social services, and know how to access the wide range of educational opportunities that are available to them.
Career Development - MHYC’s Career-Readiness Training classes give Corpsmembers the skills they need to find and keep future employment. Corpsmembers will leave MHYC with a resume, interviewing/self-presentation skills, employability skills, and basic computer skills which will give them the confidence and skills needed to lead them to the career of their choice. In addition, Corpsmembers will be knowledgeable about MHYC, and will be comfortable explaining their service here, including project specifics, to potential employers and the public at large.
Healthy Lifestyles - Corpsmembers will be exposed to a variety of workshops and guest speakers to increase their ability to make healthy life choices. Areas covered include relationships, drug/alcohol use, HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, and other health-related issues.
Environmental Education - As a conservation organization, MHYC puts a lot of energy into exposing Corpsmembers to the ideas of environmental stewardship. Corpsmembers are exposed to environmental issues on the local, national, and global level.
Activities in the six areas may be facilitated by MHYC staff members, project sponsors, community-based organizations, or the Corpsmembers themselves and may happen in the classroom or in the field. Exploration, experience, and reflection in these areas will lead to awareness that the Corpsmembers can apply throughout their lives.
Program success: MHYC’s effectiveness as a youth workforce development agency has been recognized through accreditation by the Colorado Youth Corps Association, the Excellence in Corps Operations (ECO) designation and the National Project of the Year award by The Corps Network and full-affiliate status and recipient of the Rising Star Award from YouthBuild. This program is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Department of Labor, and Denver Water.
