Oklahoma City – SISU Youth Services, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping vulnerable youth, announced the launch of its new Workforce Readiness Academy. The program is designed to give young people experiencing homelessness the tools, training and confidence they need to secure stable employment and move toward long‑term housing stability.
Program focus and structure
Executive Director Rachel Bradley explained that the academy goes beyond simply finding a paycheck. “We want to make sure that our young people have a job for today, but also a way and a career path for tomorrow,” she said. Participants meet with local employers, hear firsthand accounts from professionals, and practice mock interviews. Each youth also works one‑on‑one with a SISU employment coordinator to map out next steps, which may include completing a GED, earning a certification, or entering the workforce directly.
Participant experiences
Haley, a current participant, described how the program helped her overcome a long‑standing barrier to communication. “Just getting comfortable, actually having conversations with people. I think that’s been a barrier that I’ve had for a long time,” she said. Through the academy, Haley began training with Goodwill and is now preparing for her next employment step.
She added, “Having these interviews and things like that gave me a lot more sense of confidence when, like, just talking about my skill sets and my strengths and things that I do well in.”
Long‑term goals
Bradley said the ultimate aim is to see participants achieve stability within a year. “We want to be able to check in with them, see that they’ve found somewhere stable to live, that they have employment that can support them, and that they’re able to meet all of their own needs,” she noted.
Community partnerships and expansion
SISU is actively seeking additional partnerships with local businesses, trade schools and faith‑based organizations to broaden the academy’s reach. By expanding the network of employers and mentors, the nonprofit hopes to serve more homeless youth across Oklahoma City and surrounding neighborhoods.
The initiative aligns with the city’s broader efforts to address youth homelessness, a challenge that has grown in recent years due to rising housing costs and limited family resources. Local leaders have praised SISU’s hands‑on approach, noting that workforce training combined with personal mentorship can break the cycle of poverty for many young people.
How to get involved
Community members and businesses interested in supporting the Workforce Readiness Academy can contact SISU Youth Services directly. Opportunities include offering job shadow experiences, providing interview coaching, donating certification exam fees or sponsoring a mentorship slot.
With the launch of this academy, SISU Youth Services reinforces its commitment to empowering Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable youth, helping them transition from temporary shelter to self‑sufficient adulthood.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
