Gateway to Opportunity
Youth Workforce Development
A cornerstone of MYAN programming is the Gateway to Opportunity (G2O) initiative, a six-week workforce learning program designed to give young people paid opportunities to grow their career readiness skills while connecting Maine businesses and organizations to local talent.
Every program element grounded in positive youth development best practices also prepares youth for the future workplace. Employer sought-after adaptive skills align with the core individual skills strengthened in programming. Further, career exploration and readiness initiatives advance equity and opportunity for youth and these initiatives are adaptable to varied contexts. Quality workforce development programming demonstrably increase positive outcomes for youth participants.
High Quality Career Readiness Opportunities.
Become a Host Site
We are recruiting 2026 Host Sites!
This year, the G2O program will run for 6 weeks from the beginning of July till the middle of August (exact dates to be determined). Host sites will be onboarded in March, receive technical assistance through the Spring and receive training from the G2O staff prior to the program start.
Host sites will work alongside a team of 4-5 high-school aged youth, hired by G2O, and will partner with established professionals associated with their host site employer while designing and completing an impact project for the organization.
Many of the youth recruited for this program will be new to the workforce and require hands on supervision, as well as guidance with tasks and projects on a daily basis. G2O provides the opportunity for host site organizations to engage, learn and work alongside the future workforce of Maine while opening up new career pathways and opportunities for young people in their community.
Nominate an organization or business to be a G2O Host Site this summer!
Is your organization interested in becoming a Host Site? Fill out the interest form below!
Always Evolving
G2O Alumni Advisory Board expands the Gateway to Opportunity youth employment model through a collaborative youth-adult partnership approach program sustainability and visioning. Since the program’s launch in 2016, the model has been improved, expanded, and deepened with thoughtful and reflective feedback from the program’s core partners: youth workers, young adult leaders, and host site employers. Their insights have shaped program growth and improvements that have been invaluable to the program’s success.
2025 Host Sites
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Portland Media Center
Portland, Maine
Youth workers at Portland Media Center received hands-on filmmaking training! This group identified and interviewed community leaders, artists, elected officials, and young entrepreneurs to learn how they engage in their communities and how youth in Maine can do the same. Their news show, The New Youth Times, is live on their Youtube channel with more episodes to come!
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Bowsprit Foundation
Unity, Maine
Youth workers headed up multiple projects with the Bowsprit Foundation including a large tent construction that will serve as a community space and supporting the restoration of a barn and other farm areas. This team also learned about crop and animal care!
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Gather to Grow
Lewiston, Maine
Youth workers at Gather to Grow took part in hands-on, community-centered projects. They supported the on-site food pantry, prepared and served community meals, and cared for community gardens in Lewiston, Maine. Their work supported many levels of the local food system from tending and harvesting, to cooking and composting, to sharing fresh food with community members.
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Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine
Portland, Maine
Youth workers at the Boys and Club helped support the Brain Gain summer program, working with young club members to provide a fun learning environment!
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MCD Global
Belfast, Maine
Youth workers at Gather to Grow took part in hands-on, community-centered projects. They supported the on-site food pantry, prepared and served community meals, and cared for community gardens in Lewiston, Maine. Their work supported many levels of the local food system from tending and harvesting, to cooking and composting, to sharing fresh food with community members.
