My Turn Incorporated

America’s Youth Teenage Unemployment Reduction Network

170 Union Street, Room 204

Lynn, MA 01901

781-592-1334

www.my-turn.org

Organization Overview:

            My Turn is a community-based non-profit youth development agency working with 14 to 21 year-old in-school and out-of-school youth who are at a crossroad in their lives. The organization’s mission is to help youth develop goals, skills, and confidence needed to transition successfully into post-secondary education or training and the world of work. My Turn assists youth with the identification and development of their skills, goals, and self-confidence through education and career exploration, employment training, and post-secondary planning in collaboration with partnering organizations.

            My Turn breaks the cycle of poverty and under-achievement in a young person’s life with three core programs:

                                                                        1. Connecting to College: programs for in-school youth: HERO, the Higher Education Readiness Opportunities program, and STEP, the School Training and Education Preparation program, prepare first generation college-bound students for success in college. These nationally recognized and award-winning programs guide students through a curriculum designed to help students develop skills and orientation for long-term academic and career success; plan for college; and ensure a smooth transition between the high school and college experiences.

                                                                        2. Connecting to Work: programs for in-school youth: School-to-Work and Career Connections equip high school students who choose to enter a career immediately or shortly after graduation from high school with the skills and confidence necessary to enter a job, a training program, or college. Students are guided through a curriculum that helps them gain the professional and interpersonal skills and tools necessary to succeed in a post-secondary program and the work place.

                                                                        3. Reconnecting Out-of-School Youth: My Turn helps youth 16 to 21 years of age, develop strategies and tools and gain practical life skills and work experience needed to overcome obstacles and barriers to employment.*

            My Turn offers GED instruction, as well as counseling in developing personal plans for each participant. The case workers at My Turn walk participants through the early steps of the college application process.

Best Practices:

            -Participants draft their own constitutions to govern their time at My Turn and go through a week of orientation before beginning the program

            -My Turn brings outside counselors, such as mental health or substance abuse counselors, into the organization to work with students who may struggle with certain issues.

            -Following the completion of a My Turn program, staff conduct a follow up piece for another year in order to help students with their next steps.

Areas of college access it addresses:

            Academic Readiness—Specialized GED instruction helps participants earn their Graduate Equivalent Degree

            Social Readiness—Staff work one-on-one with each My Turn participant, encouraging goal setting and options exploration for the post-graduation plans best suited for each individual.

            College Information Awareness—My Turn helps expose students to their higher education options, assisting in the first steps of the college application process.