What is Workforce Protégé?
Workforce Protégé is a nationally recognized, award-winning internship program developed by CMJTS and a central Minnesota business. A business provides an eligible youth with a supervised work site and mentoring, which focuses on the connection between work and success and the importance of forming positive relationships with employers and community leaders. The business and CMJTS share the wage. CMJTS is the employer of record and pays the FICA and Worker’s Compensation insurance cost. The Workforce Protégé program engages area businesses to mentor young people, help them learn valuable work skills, and allow them to earn a wage while gaining experience.
What does a youth protégé learn?
- The connection between work and success
- Good basic work skills and habits
- The importance of forming positive relationships with employers and community leaders
- Increased self-worth gained through reaching work goals
- Encouragement toward post-secondary education
What are the employer’s responsibilities?
Employers who take part in the Workforce Protégé program agree to provide work that will allow the participant to see the connection between work training and future employment, be responsible for a portion of the participant’s compensation, provide feedback on the youth’s work skills, and schedule focused mentoring sessions throughout the program. Employers are under no obligation to hire the participant at the end of the training program.
Note: The youth participant must be enrolled in the program.
What’s in it for me?
Fair question! You are training the future workforce, increasing the economic stability of our community, gaining extra hands for your business at a reduced rate, and being a positive influence in a young person’s life.
For more information contact:
McLeod & Meeker Counties
Mel Schroeder
Youth Employment Specialist
320.402.4844
mschroeder@cmjts.org
Kanabec, Mille Lacs & Pine Counties
Tammi Sibben
Youth Employment Specialist
320.679.6485
tsibben@cmjts.org
Chisago & Isanti Counties
Michelle Presley
Youth Employment Specialist
612.271.4101
mpresley@cmjts.org
Sherburne County
Maurice Johnson
Youth Employment Specialist
763.333.6381
mjohnson@cmjts.org
Wright County
Laura Holzheimer
Youth Employment Specialist
763.271.3700
lholzheimer@cmjts.org
Kandiyohi & Renville Counties
Delina Woltjer
Youth Employment Specialist
320.292.4798
dwoltjer@cmjts.org