Navigate Your Success

Johnny enrolled in the Youth Navigator Program after being unemployed for a year, aspiring to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and a well-paying job to support his two young children.

RochesterWorks funded his training at Canandaigua Driving School, allowing him to avoid loans. With the skills and certifications from the CDL program, Johnny found higher-paying job opportunities, leading to financial stability and independence.

After graduation, he received multiple job offers and ultimately accepted a position with Coca Cola. Now, he's seeking to advance his career by obtaining a HazMat endorsement and aims to buy a house.

Despite significant challenges, Johnny achieved his goals within six months, thanks to the support of the Youth Navigator Program and his determination.

Maile joined our program after struggling to maintain employment and lacking a clear career path. At the start, Maile was often tardy, missed days without calling, and had trouble focusing on assigned tasks. As we got to know Maile, we learned she was a young mother caring for her child and coping with the tragic loss of her brother to gun violence.

Once Maile realized we genuinely cared about her, she began to open up and allowed us to support her. With our help, she successfully completed the program milestones.

Maile, who initially believed she lacked valuable skills, gained significant experience in woodworking, welding, and building furniture using power tools.  She is now better able to care for her family in addition to working full-time renovating homes and installing fireplaces.

Carlos, a young parent who aspired to obtain his Class A Commercial Driver’s License, connected with 160 Driving Academy and was accepted into their Commercial Driver’s License Program. He was also able to secure tuition assistance toward his training, but then found himself facing financial challenges when his car was repossessed, forcing him to put his savings toward things other than the balance of his tuition.

Carlos reached out to his Youth Navigator for help with the remaining tuition balance. Unable to arrange a loan with 160 Driving Academy, his Youth Navigator co-enrolled him in the program, and was able to secure enough additional funding to cover the costs just in time for Carlos’s training to start. However, Carlos was unable to continue his training after a positive drug test. His Youth Navigator discussed the importance of maintaining a clean record in the commercial driving industry and supported Carlos through this setback. Committed to his career and family, Carlos promised to stay drug-free.

Carlos’s Youth Navigator explored alternative Commercial Driver’s License programs for Carlos and was also able to secure support for him from a Substance Abuse Program (SAP) counselor to clear his record. Carlos was then accepted into the Class A Commercial Driver’s License Program at BOCES where he soon graduated with his Class A Commercial Driver’s License.

Carlos then secured a Commercial Driver’s License A position with Waste Management, achieving his goal and providing a stable future for his family.

Miles joined the Youth Navigator Program facing the barrier of being justice-involved and as an expectant father, with his partner being seven months pregnant. After his release, Miles connected with RochesterWorks, leading him to the Youth Navigator Program and the start of his journey.

Interested in manufacturing, Miles enrolled in the Young Adults Manufacturer Training Employment Program (YAMTEP). He has now successfully completed the manufacturing program and earned his Forklift Certification. Miles's achievements mark significant steps towards a stable and promising future for himself and his growing family.

A Word From RochesterWorks Youth System Services Director, Antwan Williams

While I am now the Director of Youth Programs at RochesterWorks, I was once a youth facing obstacles similar to those of our participants. Growing up in the 14609 area in a single-parent household, I struggled academically, failing first grade and transferring schools to enroll in a special education class. Being labeled felt like a heavy burden. 

However, my resource teacher saw my potential and took an interest in my future. She would pick me up on weekends to explore a local college. Long story short, I became the first in my family to graduate from high school and to obtain a four-year degree. 

Fast forward to today, I oversee a youth program with compassion and lived experience, helping others overcome their barriers to employment and education. 

In 2011, local leaders and partners assembled to draft our Youth Worker Model. This model emphasizes that every young person needs at least one caring adult to see their potential and provide connections to opportunities. The model gave birth to the Navigator Program, designed to collaborate with youth to strategize career goals while addressing the barriers preventing their success.