From Surviving to Thriving in Ramsey County

Face to Face connects youth to careers, confidence and a path forward

This article marks the first in a series highlighting Ramsey County Workforce Solution’s partners. These community-based organizations deliver specialized employment and training services on behalf of the county. Their efforts expand access to workforce programs through career exploration, job-readiness training, and paid work experiences for individuals facing barriers to employment. They are integral in strengthening the local workforce ecosystem and helping residents move toward stable, long-term employment.

Getting a job has become increasingly difficult for today’s youth. Many often face barriers to employment, and access to the right support can be transformative. In Ramsey County, MN, Face to Face helps young people move beyond immediate challenges and toward long-term career pathways. Specifically, its Education & Employment Program is a workforce development initiative for youth that focuses on building career readiness and long-term employment pathways. 

“Our approach meets participants where they are while preparing them for what comes next,” said Matt Sexton, Manager of the Education & Employment Program. “We feel strongly that youth are more likely to engage in the services they need when it’s all under one roof.”

What is Face to Face?

Face to Face is a Saint Paul-based nonprofit that advances economic and health equity for youth through integrated, wraparound services. Working in partnership with Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, its Education & Employment Program provides individualized support from navigators, career exploration and assessment, job readiness training, and access to paid internships with local employers. It also connects participants to additional supports, such as education assistance, mental health services, housing resources, medical care, and basic needs, all to reduce barriers to stable employment and long-term success.

Who does Face to Face serve?

The organization provides wraparound services including mental health care, medical services, housing support, and justice system programming. Its Education & Employment Program complements these efforts by focusing on workforce readiness.

Services are available to young people ages 11 to 24, primarily those who are out of school and facing barriers such as housing instability, involvement in the criminal justice system, foster care experience, parenting responsibilities, or disabilities.

“A lot of the youth that we serve are living day-to-day lives. They need help getting through today,” said Sexton, who has spent nearly 20 years working with homeless and highly mobile youth. “This allows them to step out of that and really think, what can I be in five years?”

How does Face to Face prepare participants for career pathways?

Participants begin with career exploration and self-assessment, working with navigators to identify paths aligned with their strengths and interests.

“We really look at who you are personally and what jobs will align with that,” Sexton said. “If you score really high on social, and you keep going to manufacturing jobs, that might be why you hate it.”

Training includes resume writing, interviewing skills, and financial literacy. Education support is also available, including GED preparation, FAFSA assistance, and funding for certifications. Participants often move through the process together to build consistency.

“We’re trying to streamline everything so they’re all prepared to move into an internship or whatever their next step is,” Sexton said.
Participants can also receive practical support, including transportation assistance, technology, and help with basic needs.

“If they need a bus card or a gas card, we have those,” Sexton said. “If they fall behind on their phone bill, we can pay it to keep them in contact with their employer.”

Does Face to Face have internships?

Paid internships are a central component of Face to Face’s youth employment program. They work with local employers to provide hands-on experience.

“We pay the youth to do the internship, and we find a local partner that will host that internship in a career field they’re interested in pursuing,” Sexton said. “We’re always looking for partners that understand the young people we’re working with.”

These experiences help participants build resumes, gain references, and explore career options in a real-world setting.

What is the Face to Face ultimate objective?

At its core, the work focuses on helping young people shift from short-term survival to long-term planning, not only to strengthen an individual’s outlook but also to help the broader workforce and community.

“If you do something today, it has an impact on getting you to five years from now,” Sexton said. “That’s a big thing, to break them out of that cycle of today and tomorrow.”

How can organizations learn more or partner with Face to Face?

Connect with Face to Face or Ramsey County Workforce Solutions to learn more or explore partnership opportunities to help build a stronger, more inclusive Ramsey County.