The YouthForce program connects teens, ages 14-18, with businesses that invest in their training and development. YouthForce offers a variety of activities to help teens develop essential skills for workforce success, including finding a job based on their interests and talents, applying for jobs, developing strong soft skills, and determining the educational and career path they wish to pursue.
YouthForce University is an intensive training program that focuses on workplace professionalism and financial literacy to simulate a high-quality work experience for teens. It includes two parts: training and interning. The training portion involves twelve hours of job readiness skills and career pathway development. Upon completing the program, teens earn a 60-hour paid internship at a local business.
Technical Training Camps
ABC Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship
Advanced Criminal Justice
Advanced Nursing
Advanced Welding
Cosmetology
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Dental Medicine
Game Design
Healthcare Careers
Informational Technology Foundations
Mock Trial
Nursing
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Surgical Technology
Veterinary Medicine
Welding
Program Outcomes
326
teens served 2023-2024
160
members participated in summer technical training camps (2024)
100%
of youth enrolled in the YouthForce Technical Training Program gained specific job skills related to their career interests
12
businesses offered special events and soft skills training
15
local businesses hosted YouthForce interns
Thank you to our YouthForce partners.
All Kreatures Pet Care
Axle Logistics
B&G Catering
Blount County Public Library
Bombshells Salon Knox
Bridgewater Place
Brooke Nix Medical Aesthetics
CAC Beardsley Community Farm
Food City
Junior Achievement of East Tennessee
Knoxville Convention Center
Knox County Schools
Knoxville Police Department
Kreative Kidets Childcare Center
Martin Luther King Jr. Center
Old Navy
Pellissippi State Community College
PetSafe
Random Acts of Flowers
South College
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Tennessee Trucking Association
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
Tindell’s Building Materials
Trustwell Living of West Knoxville
TTJC Karate
UT Federal Credit Union