Crawford County JMG Students Advocate at Legislative Day in Lansing

February 25, 2026 – Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium Youth Career Advisors had the privilege of taking two outstanding students to Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) Legislative Day in Lansing. Representing Crawford County, our JMG students met with staff from Senator Michele Hoitenga’s office and with Ken Borton to share their experiences and perspectives.

Legislative Day, hosted annually by Youth Solutions, is designed to empower young people to engage directly with Michigan’s policymakers. The event gives students the opportunity to share their personal stories of growth and success, build confidence in advocating for themselves and their peers, and gain firsthand insight into how state government works. Most importantly, it reinforces that their voices matter and can help shape real change.

During their meetings, our students thoughtfully discussed challenges facing youth and rural communities, including transportation barriers, teacher shortages, access to education, and pathways to quality careers. They also spoke with Representative Borton about deteriorating road conditions in northern Michigan and how infrastructure impacts students, families, and local workforce opportunities.

In a great example of learning in action, one of the students — with Representative Borton’s permission — recorded her questions and his responses so she can share them with her Civics class. She plans to play the recording and lead a discussion about his answers, extending the impact of Legislative Day beyond Lansing and into her classroom.

We are incredibly proud of how professionally and passionately our students represented Crawford County. Their willingness to speak up and share their experiences highlights the true impact of the JMG program — not only preparing young people for careers, but empowering them to become confident leaders and advocates in their communities.