It is a career development group-based program with a difference, providing experiences and opportunities for people who may have had repeated setbacks to traditional learning and/or work. It helps people reconnect with their potential, take charge and live the life they want to live.
IN MOTION, a 3-week, 3 days/week module, meets people where they are. It focuses on self-awareness activities that remind people of their strengths, skills, and values and supports us in creating a vision for their “preferred future,” provides opportunities to identify and practice critical life and employability skills (e.g., teamwork, stress management, communication, problem-solving, budgeting, digital literacy) and supports actionable goals and develop action plans strategies that address potential barriers and identify possible supports.
The second module, MOMENTUM (4 weeks, 4 days/week), extends the work done in IN MOTION. Here, participants continue to progress toward personal goals while working with the group to conceive and implement a project that contributes to their communities. The main activity of the module is called ‘The Community Project”, in which IM&M+ participants use their combined skills to address a need in their community. In implementing the project, a range of skills from planning, teamwork, and communication, are used, personal networks are extended and resources are identified and built upon.
The final module, MOMENTUM + (2 days for 3 weeks; optional 1 day for 6 weeks), supports participants in effectively transitioning to the next step of their journey. The group and the facilitator work together to identify workshop themes relevant to the action plans of those in the group. Group members can use workshop time to demonstrate or practice skills related to their career goals. During this time, facilitators coach and support IM&M+ participants in implementing their personal action plans and build bridges to community contacts and resources to promote participants’ continued growth and success past the program.
Many pre-employment programs focus on employment or further training as their core outcomes without pausing to address the systemic, personal, and employability needs that often get in people’s way. IM&M+ is different.
It meets people where they are, helps them move from feeling stuck to achieving their preferred future by recognizing their strengths and building on them. The group-based design empowers people to chart their own career path with success.