Teen Power, a non-profit, youth-serving organization in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is finding creative ways to provide teens with opportunities for workplace development and readiness. The organization, currently, facilitates a website that connects eligible teens with employment opportunities in the community. The overall goal of this program is to empower teens to gain skills related to their future goals through community support, while helping community members and businesses find ways to support the talents and dreams of their local youth. According to Michelle Rooks, a Teen Power Board Member, “The program has made me realize the power of teens. I now know that teens are more than willing to work for our community. They want jobs more than they want donations. They want to feel valued.”
Teen Power also encourages teens to participate in educational classes offered by Teen Power or different organizations within the community. Overall, the community program has been a success. A recent survey of teen members by Teen Power found that teens were excited about the opportunity to work and be valued in their community, learn new life skills, and manage their own money. One teen member reported that “Teen Power has helped me with my confidence at jobs. This helps me because now I can apply for jobs without being nervous. It also helps me control my money so I don’t spend it all at once. Teen Power has been a great help in my life.”
Teen Power also has a scholarship program for young people to help them take part in extracurricular activities and other empowerment-related opportunities.
Teen Power recently supported one teen’s wish to attend a People-to-People Ambassador trip this summer(an international-student-learning program). Instead of asking for donations, the teen has offered her employment through Teen Power to community members and businesses to earn the money needed for her trip.
For more information on this exciting youth-empowerment program, please visit http://www.jhteenpower.org/
back to initiative