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- Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) is a nonprofit workforce development organization based in Cleveland, Ohio. For over 40 years Y.O.U. has served teens and young adults ages 14-24 living in under-resourced areas in Northeast Ohio.
Purpose
Y.O.U.’s programs and services are focused on ensuring youth and young adults in Northeast Ohio are ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency through mentoring, employability skills training, industry-based credential training, career exploration, jobs, and internships.
Since its founding in 1982, approximately 160,000 teens and young adults have obtained a job or internship through Y.O.U., earning about $60 million in salaries and stipends.
Y.O.U. employment programs help nearly 5,000 teens and young adults annually, preparing them for career pathways through summer and year-round jobs, internships, and industry-specific credential training.
Y.O.U. school programs help hundreds of teens annually prepare for the workforce.
Since its founding in 1982, approximately 160,000 teens and young adults have obtained a job or internship through Y.O.U., earning about $60 million in salaries and stipends.
Y.O.U. employment programs help nearly 5,000 teens and young adults annually, preparing them for career pathways through summer and year-round jobs, internships, and industry-specific credential training.
Y.O.U. school programs help hundreds of teens annually prepare for the workforce.
Vision
A community where every young person has the tools and confidence to build a fulfilling career and bright future.
Mission
To equip teens and young adults with an array of skills and experiences needed to thrive in an evolving workforce and throughout their lives.
Additional Culture Details
At Y.O.U., we intentionally center our employees in everything we do, recognizing that a strong team is essential to achieving our mission. We are committed to making Y.O.U. a great place to work by offering a competitive compensation and benefits package, including paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, employer-provided parking, and an annual professional development budget for every staff member. Employees also have opportunities to pursue additional learning through scholarship support.
As a nonprofit organization, our mission is the primary motivator for our staff. We actively embed it into our daily work by placing it at the center of decision-making and organizational practices. Each board meeting begins with a “mission moment” to ground our work in purpose, and our mission is consistently reflected across internal communications. When faced with decisions, we return to a guiding question: What is best for the youth we serve?
Our values are the foundation of our culture. They guide how we show up, make decisions, and engage with one another—especially when no one is watching. These shared values, combined with our mission, foster a culture that is supportive, family-friendly, and results-driven.
We bring our values to life by highlighting one each month during staff town halls, where team members share personal reflections and real-world applications in their work. Our DEI Advisory Council further strengthens this commitment by meeting monthly to advance staff.
As a nonprofit organization, our mission is the primary motivator for our staff. We actively embed it into our daily work by placing it at the center of decision-making and organizational practices. Each board meeting begins with a “mission moment” to ground our work in purpose, and our mission is consistently reflected across internal communications. When faced with decisions, we return to a guiding question: What is best for the youth we serve?
Our values are the foundation of our culture. They guide how we show up, make decisions, and engage with one another—especially when no one is watching. These shared values, combined with our mission, foster a culture that is supportive, family-friendly, and results-driven.
We bring our values to life by highlighting one each month during staff town halls, where team members share personal reflections and real-world applications in their work. Our DEI Advisory Council further strengthens this commitment by meeting monthly to advance staff.
Values
- Youth Voice:
- We amplify our first-hand understanding of those we serve in community and policy discussions to influence changes that improve the lives of youth.
Recent Awards
Company Snapshots
