Since our inception in 1987, Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) has worked as an affiliate of, and close partner to, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG). Though we function independently as our own organization, we work with JAG to gain a foundation for how we can achieve our own success here in Ohio, making sure that we meet (or exceed) their criteria for success.

We at Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) have been in operation since 1987, but there are plenty of individuals meeting us for the first time as we grow in our community! We want to take time to explain more about who we are, what different JOG terms mean and more about our vision and mission. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ)s about JOG.

At Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) we strive to try to help youth actualize their dreams by helping them learn steps on how to get there. Maggie is a special case where she knew exactly what she wanted to do in life, but she needed support to achieve her dream of working with children.

Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) has been passionate about expanding our services to as many students as we can in Ohio since our inception in 1987. Career Specialist Heidi Phillips, who has been with JOG for four years now, was one of the biggest helps in rolling out our programming in Trumbull County. When we came into the Trumbull area, Niles McKinley High School was the first district we joined, at which Heidi leads the JOG program.

When thinking about what we do at Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG), most people think of our in-school programs. Though those are very important, so is our out-of-school program. Not every participant we work with is a “traditional” student. Some have dropped out and are looking to obtain their GED. Some have graduated and are looking for career assistance. But most are somewhere in-between.

Employment is a top priority here at Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG). We work with our participants to promote learning about different work environments by helping them find in-field work experiences with real-world employers. It’s through close partnerships that we are able to supply work experiences to participants interested in applicable career paths.

At Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) we strive to try to help youth actualize their dreams by helping them learn steps on how to get there. Maggie is a special case where she knew exactly what she wanted to do in life, but she needed support to achieve her dream of working with children.

Hard work is one of the driving factors in what push Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) staff to do their best for our participants. Matt Turner is a great example of exactly that. Matt has been a key part of our operations in Trumbull County since he joined JOG in July of 2020, his first job in his field out of college.

Part of the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) model is hosting a yearly career knowledge-readiness competition called the Career Development Conference (CDC). This year at JOG, there are eight total competitions with seven taking place at the event itself.

When you think of Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG), you probably think of our in-school services or even the after-school club. You may be surprised to hear that we are doing much more than that to help give back to our community! From volunteer hours to mentoring to even sponsoring events, we are here to give back to the communities that support our mission. Here are a few other ways JOG is involved in our community.

At Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) we strive to try to help youth to achieve their goals, both educational and career-oriented. In the case of Breanna, she came to us with strong career and educational aspirations.

It takes specials individuals to help students feel like they have what it takes to succeed in life. Whether that is a deeper discussion about goals and how to achieve them or keeping priorities in check, Career Specialists at Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) work hard to make sure their kids feel seen, heard, and ready to take on life’s greatest challenges.

Mike McKinney has been a cornerstone of Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) since 2008. He initially started with JOG in Medina County as a Career Specialist at the Medina County Career Center. He then worked in Summit County at both Garfield and North high schools, as well as the out-of-school program. He started his leadership role in JOG as a County Coordinator for Summit County before moving to Trumbull County, where he works today.

One of our out-of-school students is Angel. As a part of JOG’s OOS programming, Angel has worked with career specialists in the Medina County JOG office to help her complete her HSE through online classes and in-person and virtual tutoring.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has become a larger priority in the workplace in the past few years. In an ever-evolving professional landscape, it is important to be able to make everyone feel comfortable and seen. Through conscious efforts of recognizing what a more representative policy looks like, we are able to recognize what everyone can do to make their workplace more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

Part of being in the Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) program is the ability to be involved in three different conferences centered around personal and professional growth. These conferences are the Career Development Conference (CDC), Leadership Development Conference (LDC), and Organizational Strengths in Differences – DEI Conference (OSiD).