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A huge thank you to the Community Foundation of Howard County for honoring our Youth Transition Services (YTS) with the 2024 Casey & Pebble Willis Making a Difference Award. This award was presented at the Annual Dinner of Celebration and Philanthropy and it highlights the incredible impact nonprofits are making in our local community. Humanim is proud to be a part of this legacy, as we\u2019ve been serving youth in the community for forty years.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sandbox3.foxtrotdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20241210_190257.jpg?_t=1738619730\")
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Since 1985, YTS has been dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities, empowering youth to achieve their career goals and thrive. By partnering with public school systems and local employers, we help young adults prepare to enter the workforce, offering personalized support that meets each individual where they are.<\/p>\n
YTS focuses on equipping young people with essential skills for success, including communication, empathy, conflict resolution, emotional management, building positive relationships, goal-setting, and responsible decision-making. These life and career readiness skills pave the way for their personal and professional growth.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sandbox3.foxtrotdev.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Jaden_story-600x453.jpg\")
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An example of our impact in the local community is Jaden\u2019s story. Jaden joined us in the fall of 2023 during his senior year of high school. He interned at the Ellicott City YMCA. Over eight weeks, he excelled in his role, assisting with cleaning tasks and greeting members at the front desk. Jaden quickly became a favorite among gym members, who expressed their hope that he would stay on after his internship. His supervisors praised his positive attitude and eagerness to assist both colleagues and members.<\/p>\n
In January 2024, Jaden participated in a second internship at the YMCA, where he continued to thrive at the front desk and expanded his role to include working in the Stay & Play Center. There, he signed in children, engaged them in activities, and kept detailed notes for parents about their children\u2019s experiences. Staff were so impressed with Jaden\u2019s record-keeping initiative that they adopted it as a permanent part of their childcare routine.<\/p>\n
Through this experience, Jaden discovered a passion for working with children. Now a high school graduate, he is pursuing child development courses at Howard Community College, inspired by his time at YTS. Jaden shared that the program not only helped him decide which classes to take but also gave him the confidence to pursue a career working with children.<\/p>\n
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We are deeply grateful for this award and the recognition of our work. We will continue striving for excellence and creating opportunities for the next generation. Thank you to the Community Foundation of Howard County for this incredible honor!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A huge thank you to the Community Foundation of Howard County for honoring our Youth Transition Services (YTS) with the 2024 Casey & Pebble Willis Making a Difference Award. This award was presented at the Annual Dinner of Celebration and Philanthropy and it highlights the incredible impact nonprofits are making in our local community. Humanim<\/p>\n