Jobs in the Arts Make Sense (JAMS) is Van Go’s employment program for 14-18 year old youth. JAMS serves teens who have identified barriers to employment and educational attainment including, but not limited to: living in poverty, court involvement, mental health diagnosis, placement in foster care, truancy or having an IEP in school. JAMS serves the emerging workforce by teaching them important job skills employers value and life skills needed for self-sufficiency. Our holistic approach entails providing them with meaningful paid employment to create art, all while addressing the needs that qualified the youth for our programs. JAMS typically operates in three 8-week sessions throughout the year in the spring, summer, and fall.
The Arts Train
is Van Go’s year-round, transitional employment program for young adults, ages 18-24. Designed to engage disconnected youth, TAT serves young people who have barriers to employment and educational attainment including, but not limited to: living in poverty, mental health diagnosis, aging out of foster care, pregnancy or parenting, court involvement, homelessness, or lacking a high school diploma. These youth often “fall through the cracks” and TAT provides paid employment, employability skills training and comprehensive wraparound services, all aimed at addressing their identified barriers, setting attainable goals and preparing participants for successful employment, educational attainment and self-sufficiency. The Arts Train provides nine months of paid, on-site job training followed by a paid, community-based internship matched with their career interests or skill set to help these young adults successfully transition to independence.
