Nonprofit offers free job-readiness services to Ulster County teens

This summer, Go Beyond Greatness partnered with the Ulster County Office of Employment and Training’s Summer Youth Employment Program and Ellenville High School’s Tech & Media Department to offer high school students free career readiness classes. These workshops allow students to obtain job readiness skills through experiential learning, allowing them to prepare for real world employment.

Go Beyond Greatness is a consulting agency that provides college and career readiness programs. It is a state-certified Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise that focuses on helping students from marginalized neighborhoods thrive in the workforce and beyond. 

“This series of workshops was truly special,” said Ashley Knox, director of Go Beyond Greatness. “To see youth showing up to invest in themselves and their futures during their summer break - shows great character. Through our time with this cohort of young people, we saw their character develop in meaningful ways.”

Some of the skills being taught at these workshops included developing a resume, job searching, networking, interviewing, managing time and teamwork. Above all else, GBG allows students time to perform self-reflection that will build character and social-emotional skills.

“Through the course of weeks students who entered our program unclear about their goals, completed a process of internal reflection and outward development,” Knox continued. “Each can now step forward confident in themselves and their next steps. We look forward to seeing what they’ll achieve as they return to school - and pursue their own version of greatness.”