How does Gateway to Opportunity work?
The Gateway to Opportunity Program (G2O) connects low-income young people (both in-school and out-of-school) with paid, work-based learning projects during the summer. These projects help youth participants develop the 21st Century Skills required for success in their future careers. The G2O program is a new approach to work-based learning that was developed by the Cutler Institute’s Youth & Community Engagement (YCE) team at the University of Southern Maine in partnership with local stakeholders and based on national best practices for youth employability. As the lead partner in the 2022 G2O initiative, MYAN is actively exploring new partnerships with Maine-based businesses, non-profits, and community organizations to expand this initiative statewide.
Learn about G2O from Young People:
Calling High School-Aged and College-Aged Youth! Are you looking for an awesome PAID 6-week summer job? Click the button below to learn more!
Sign up and get added to our youth mailing list!
Click here to sign up for our G2O Youth email list!
Learn more about this innovative program model!
Learn More About Becoming a Host Site!
As a host site, you will support a team of young people for a 6-week collaborative project at your organization, investing in both local and emerging professionals for our incoming workforce. Previous Host Sites include Loon Echo Land Trust, The City of Portland, The City of South Portland, Healthy Acadia, The Opportunity Alliance, Partners for Prevention, Partners for Healthier Communities, and many more!
If you or your organization are interested in becoming involved in this innovative work-based learning program, to receive more information, please contact Alastair Lawson at alastair.lawson@opportunityalliance.org.
1) Gateway to Opportunity Toolkit 2021 – Please enjoy an updated version of the G2O toolkit that the team at the Cutler Institute developed and launched in 2019. This version of the toolkit includes feedback from core G2O partners, including the Maine Youth Action Network, as well as over a dozen templates and tools to help you visualize G2O in your community!
2) G2O: Critical for Maine’s future economy – Nikki Williams and Susy Hawes from the Data Innovation Project authored this article, published by the Maine Policy Review, exploring how programs like G2O are critical for Maines’s economy and future workforce. Thanks for sharing widely!
