Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) is a nonprofit workforce development organization based in Cleveland, Ohio that serves teens and young adults ages 14-24 living in economically distressed areas in Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Lake Counties. Y.O.U.’s programs and services are focused on ensuring these individuals are ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency through mentoring, employability skills training, industry-based credential training, career exploration, jobs, and internships. Y.O.U.’s goal is to see that teens and young adults in Northeast Ohio are well prepared to enter the workforce.  Y.O.U. is deeply committed to collaborating with other local youth-serving organizations to build the strongest workforce network possible.

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. This summer about 1,600 teens will earn $1,400,000 in summer jobs or internships, and 750 young adults ages 18-24 will earn $900,000 in a summer job or internship that could lead to full-time employment.