Since 2011, the City of Champaign has partnered with Champaign Unit 4 School District’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to provide Unit 4 students, ages 14-19, with hands-on work experience within our rich local business community for six weeks during the summer. In January 2017, the program expanded its focus and officially launched its new identity as Youth Employment Services, or YES! While the main focus will still be around the summer employment initiative, the program will now be working with students all year long. They are also looking for connections to employer sites that are able to hire students directly during the school year.
Program Coordinator Mandy Danowitz: Ms. Danowitz serves as the Youth Employment Services Program Supervisor for Unit 4 Schools, where she focuses on creating meaningful connections between students and community employment opportunities. With experience in education and entrepreneurship, Ms. Danowitz has previously taught at Unit 4 schools as an Art teacher at Franklin STEAM Academy and as an Art Enrichment, Dance and Drama teacher at Stratton Academy of the Arts. As a former business owner of Lola’s Brush, a successful Painting Party business, she brings a unique blend of educational expertise and business acumen to her current role.
Her commitment to student-led learning and community building is evident through her work as an Artist in Residence, where she has guided students in creating murals and mosaics throughout the district. Ms. Danowitz holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Loyola University (2003), K-12 certification, and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Chicago. She is passionate about empowering student voices and creating opportunities that allow young people to contribute to the beauty and vitality of their school community.
Interested in joining the YES Program? Register now through the links below!
Employer Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWJ4DPTaLGaWAyt8vkpHAoNDFRGyysHjiyczTY-do-WH_Dwg/viewform?usp=header
Student Sign Up Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyVfBNdAepLjSc2UV2jc909m4WfmVbTCqgbapwD-ZeC8qsLw/viewform?usp=header
Find more information here: https://www.champaignschools.org/page/youth-employment-services
