In early August, the Scottish Rite Center in downtown Wichita echoed with applause as 172 teens were honored at the YMCA of Greater Wichita’s annual Job Prep celebration. For the young people on stage, the event marked the end of months of hard work in a program designed to prepare them for real-world jobs and lifelong success.
For families and community members watching, it was a reminder of why Job Prep matters and how it continues to change lives across Wichita.
Job Prep is the YMCA’s youth employment and leadership initiative that teaches teens how to find, secure, and keep their first jobs—while building professional and personal skills they’ll use throughout life. Open to teens ages 15 to 17, the 12-week Job Prep program begins each February, followed by a 10-week summer employment period that ends July 31. The program is free for students, and transportation is provided to make access as easy as possible.
With the 2025 class complete and 2026 program recruitment is underway For 2026, the YMCA hopes to engage between 300 and 400 students in 2026 — nearly double last year’s total. It’s a goal that shows how deeply the program’s impact resonates with students and employers alike.
A Vision Born from a Workforce Gap
YMCA’s Job Prep program began in 2007–2008. Adults were increasingly filling summer and entry-level jobs that once offered teens valuable first work experiences. Seeing this shift, Tyrone Baker,who is now the Y’s Senior Program Director of Urban Outreach, recognized a growing gap.
Young people were missing out on those early jobs where they could learn responsibility and gain real-world experience. Job Prep was created to close that gap—giving teens the tools, confidence, and support to compete for and keep those early jobs.
From Participant to Program Director
One of the clearest examples of the program’s impact is Natania Jetter, who joined Job Prep as a teen after her mother heard about it. She was eager to work and ready to grow. Through the program, she met mentors like Min McKenzie, now COO of the YMCA, and Tyrone Baker, who helped her build confidence, sharpen her skills, and discover her potential as a leader.
Over the years, Jetter stayed connected to the program—volunteering, instructing, and eventually joining the advisory board. Today, she serves as the Program Director for Job Prep, a full-circle moment that shows exactly what the program was designed to do: empower young people to step into leadership.
Building Skills That Last
Job Prep is more than just an introduction to employment. Students learn how to communicate professionally, build resumes, manage their money, and present themselves with confidence. Every participant completes CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and First Aid certification free of charge, giving them a practical skill set they can carry into any field.
One of the program’s signature components is the “Super Bowl” mock interview, where executives from across Wichita sit down with students for real job interviews. Their interview skills are evaluated and students who need more support receive additional coaching and try again, ensuring they’re fully prepared for real-world opportunities.
Real-World Opportunities Through Partnerships
Unlike many youth employment programs, Job Prep doesn’t simply place students into roles. Instead, the YMCA works with local companies to gather job descriptions. Students then review available opportunities, call employers directly to set up interviews, and compete for positions. Those selected are hired as YMCA employees, and the YMCA covers their wages for up to 25 hours a week during the summer.
This structure reinforces initiative and accountability. Students must show they’re ready to work—and employers see the difference. Over the years, local companies like INTRUST Bank, Wesley Medical Center, Redbud Pediatrics, M&M Insurance, and GT Midwest have partnered with the YMCA to offer job placements, mentorship, and funding that keep Job Prep growing.
Baker still remembers the early years when Koch Industries became the first major donor. “They believed in the program before anyone else,” he said. “And years later, they get to see that investment come to life in people like Natania.”
A Growing Network of Opportunity
The program continues to expand—building healthcare pathways with GraceMed Health Clinic, adding HVAC training, and launching a hands-on career expo to connect students with real career options. Jetter and her team are building new pathways in healthcare through partnerships with GraceMed Health Clinic, exploring opportunities in HVAC trades, and planning a hands-on career expo to give students exposure to diverse career fields. There are also plans to offer college tours, including visits to Langston University, to help students envision their next steps beyond high school.
Job Prep now works closely with Wichita Public Schools Future Ready Centers and the HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) partnership—a citywide effort that unites programs like the City’s Way to Work and the Workforce Alliance Youth Employment Project—to ensure every teen has access to the right level of training and opportunity Future Ready Centers and collaborating with other youth employment efforts through the HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) partnership, a citywide initiative that unites programs like the City of Wichita’s Way to Work and the Workforce Alliance Youth Employment Project to strengthen youth job opportunities, which includes the City of Wichita’s Way to Work Program and the Workforce Alliance Youth Employment Project. The goal is to make sure every teen, regardless of their starting point, is connected to the right level of training and opportunity.
A Program That Grows With Its Students
The 12-week instruction phase begins the first week of February and runs through early May, followed by a 10-week summer employment period that ends July 31. The program is free for students, and transportation is provided to make access as easy as possible.
Last year, 365 students enrolled, with 172 receiving paid wages through YMCA partnerships. Many others used the training to secure their own jobs, which Baker considers just as much a success. “When a teen gets hired on their own, that means the program worked,” he explained.
While parents often help teens get to the program, once enrolled, students are responsible for attendance, communication, and follow-through—skills that build independence and accountability to and from the program, but once things begin, the responsibility shifts to the student. That intentional design helps young people practice independence, communication, and ownership of their own growth.
Enrollment and Contact
Enrollment opened October 1 and will remain open until classes begin in February. Teens can even join slightly after the start date if space allows.
For more information or to enroll: Email: jobprep@ymcawichita.org Phone: 316-776-8179 Website: ymcawichita.org/jobprep
