Helping Cleveland students build skills for the future

As students prepare to head back to school, teens across Cleveland are wrapping up a summer spent exploring careers and building workplace skills through Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.).

With support from Norfolk Southern’s Thriving Communities grant program, students participated in the Y.O.U. and MAGNET Summer Manufacturing Academy, part of Y.O.U.'s Summer Youth Employment Program, which serves more than 1,500 teens each year. Since 2025, Norfolk Southern has awarded a total of $50,000 in Thriving Communities grants to Y.O.U.

Why it matters: Early career exposure helps students build confidence, develop workplace skills, and explore opportunities they may not have otherwise considered.

Preparing tomorrow's workforce

This summer, students developed essential workplace skills through workshops on communication, teamwork, professionalism, and leadership. They put those skills into practice through hands-on manufacturing experiences led by MAGNET, a Cleveland-based workforce development nonprofit that received a $25,000 Norfolk Southern Thriving Communities grant in 2025. Career panels, industry field trips, and technical training through Tooling U’s online manufacturing learning platform provided additional exposure to careers in the industry.

What they're saying

"The MAGNET Summer Manufacturing Academy is an amazingly innovative and incredibly cool way to get young people excited about careers in manufacturing. It's helping change perceptions of an industry that has long struggled to engage young talent. In just four years, we've grown the program from seven participants to 100." — Craig Dorn, CEO, Youth Opportunities Unlimited

"Helping young people discover their potential and prepare for future careers strengthens communities for years to come. Through partners like Youth Opportunities Unlimited and MAGNET, we're investing in programs that give students the skills, experiences, and confidence they need to succeed, both in the classroom and in the workforce." — Kristin Wong, Director Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact

Investing in stronger communities

Through our Thriving Communities grant program, we support organizations like Y.O.U. that create opportunities and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. Learn more about our grant programs here.