Staff Interview: Leigh
At Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG), our staff are the heartbeat of every success story. This month, we’re spotlighting Leigh, a career specialist on our GO (Growth Opportunities) team who joined JOG in early 2025 and has quickly become an essential voice in shaping the program’s trauma-informed approach to youth workforce development.
A Reunion That Changed Everything
Leigh’s path to JOG began with an unexpected re-connection. She explained, “I was at a volunteer training on being an Upstander, and my current supervisor, Jessica Porter, happened to be there too.” She continued, “We used to work together at Children’s Services, and after the session, she came up to me, told me about the program, asked if I might be interested… and the rest is history!”
More Than a Job Description
While her formal title is GO Career Specialist, Leigh’s day-to-day work in the GO Program is deeply holistic. Especially coming from a casework background, trauma-informed care is second nature to her.
As Leigh explains it, “I coach participants through work experiences, soft-skill development, and future planning. But since many of our young people have been adjudicated or expelled, they come with unique barriers. Things like housing needs, food insecurity, transportation issues, and referrals to supportive services. At the core of my job I work to make sure each participant is emotionally okay, because none of the career or life goals land unless they feel safe, supported, and grounded.”
Strengthening a New Program in Real Time
Joining the GO team after its initial launch gave Leigh a unique opportunity to help refine processes on the fly. “It’s been a crash course in flexibility, creativity, and teamwork,” Leigh laughed. She credits her master’s coursework in anti-oppression and anti-racism for reshaping how she approaches participants with curiosity, care, and intentionality.
“My perspective is not their reality. Making unapologetic space for their voices is at the heart of what we do and what my goal is every day.”
Favorite Moments and Future Goals
When reflecting on her favorite moments at JOG, Leigh’s said one of the most impactful experiences she had was in watching a student step far outside his comfort zone to serve as a lead speaker while their whole group earned AED/CPR certifications.
Through 2026 and Beyond!
Looking ahead through the rest of 2026, Leigh hopes to design a participant enrichment project. Though it is still in the works, she wants to focus on a life-skills series, career-readiness workshop, or employer speaker month. Leigh’s hard work through the GO Program cannot be overstated! She has been a key part to the success of her program, and JOG as a whole since joining the team. We look forward to all of the future successes Leigh creatively comes up with, and brings to the table.
Learn more about JOG’s GO Program and our work supporting youth across Northeast Ohio at: https://jogworks.org/go-program/
