YOUTH
PROGRAMMING
Youth Programs
with Goodwill
Goodwill CMH connects young people with work experience and career exploration in the Battle Creek area. Explore Goodwill Connects, our partnership with Battle Creek Central High School Career Academies, and career-exploration opportunities with Kellogg Community College.
Participation requirements and schedules differ by program. Call (269) 788-6500, extension 2032 to ask about current opportunities and next steps.
Goodwill Connects
Goodwill Connects provides students with paid summer work experience with local employers in the Battle Creek area. Students learn workplace expectations, build communication skills, and explore the kinds of work that interest them.
The program typically runs six to eight weeks, with support from career mentors such as local educators and counselors. Contact our team for the upcoming session’s schedule, eligibility, application process, and available placements.
Learn More
Our Impact
By working alongside local employers, students can explore their interests and practice skills used in the workplace. Career mentors support students as they consider employment, training, or further education after high school.
The brochures linked above are from 2024 and provide background about the program. For current information, call (269) 788-6500, extension 2032.
Battle Creek Central High School
Career Academies
Battle Creek Central High School Career Academies integrate traditional academic coursework with work-based learning opportunities during the school day. GICMH facilitates the business partnerships that bring professionals from a variety of career paths to the school to assist with mock interviews, career fairs and tours of area businesses. Through the Career Academy’s career exploration opportunities, students receive employer expectations training and hands-on experiences in purposeful, career-focused educational opportunities.
Do you work for a business that
wants to get involved?
Through the Career Academies model, there are numerous opportunities for our local businesses to get involved in directly supporting students. Community partners can serve in a wide range of exciting activities from offering internships to hosting Industry Tours or being a volunteer interviewer during Mock Interviews. Other easy participation options include guest speaking in various classes, serving as a panelist during freshman Career Panels, or hosting tables at the Freshman Career Exploration Fair or Senior Job Fair.
If you work for a company in one of the following industries, the students at Battle Creek Central High School need your help:
- Information Technology
- Finance
- Business
- Engineering
- Skilled Trades
- Nursing
- Healthcare
- Public Safety
- Education
Goodwill CMH helps local employers connect with Battle Creek Central High School Career Academies. To discuss hosting, volunteering, or other opportunities, call (269) 788-6500, extension 2032, or explore our community partnerships.
Who Can Participate in Career Academies?
This section applies to the Battle Creek Central High School Career Academies partnership. Students at Battle Creek Central can talk with their school counselor about participation, career pathways, and connections with community partners.
For Goodwill Connects or Kellogg Community College career exploration, contact our team about each program’s current eligibility and schedule.
Career Academies Student Information
Battle Creek Central students can find pathway information and participation details through the school’s Career Academies student portal:
Kellogg Community College
Career Exploration Partnership
Goodwill CMH and Kellogg Community College collaborate on hands-on career exploration for high school students interested in skilled trades and public safety. Experiences have included activities such as welding, electrical wiring, and CPR.
Call (269) 788-6500, extension 2032 to ask about the next session, eligibility, available spaces, and any paid participation opportunities. Confirm current details before making summer plans.