Mile High Youth Corps — Local services in Denver

My experience with Mile High Youth Corps was deeply disappointing and not at all what was promised. They advertise the program as a path to personal growth, education, and job training, but in reality, the focus is almost entirely on labor, not learning. Education felt like an afterthought the entire time I was there.

Out of the 23 people in my cohort, only 4 earned their GEDs over the course of 6 months. That statistic alone speaks volumes. It’s not because people weren’t trying — it’s because the program simply doesn’t provide the support, resources, or consistent structure needed to help people succeed academically. Most of our time and energy was drained by being sent to low-quality job sites that had nothing to do with skill-building or career development. Some of these sites were borderline unsafe, including locations with roach infestations, poor sanitation, and supervisors who treated us with clear disrespect.

The staff at Mile High Youth Corps were, for the most part, rude, unapproachable, and dishonest. Many of them seemed to care more about control and power than actually helping participants. There was a serious lack of communication, accountability, and empathy. Instead of mentoring or guiding us, most staff acted like we were a burden.

The truth is, this program is more about cheap labor than youth development. If you’re hoping to get your GED, gain real skills, or receive genuine support, this is not the place. They’ll talk a big game during orientation, but once you’re in, you’re mostly on your own. I would not recommend this program to anyone serious about changing their life or achieving educational goals. There are far better, more supportive...

I like the idea of the program but must admit that the level of communication to the potential students is poor. My son waited 6 weeks to finally receive a call to tell him he wasn't accepted. At that point, the school year had already started and he was late enrolling. A simple phone call letting him know that he was not selected was all he needed. Between the 2 of us, we made 4 phone calls before we finally heard back. Not a very good way to treat people who already feel that the system doesn't work for them.

Another student I referred is experiencing similar difficulty. My experience in working with students who have dropped out of school or are high risk to do so has taught me that one of the most important services you can provide is clear and concise communication. They have already had enough experiences with people they cannot trust...

This entity does a very good job of hiding their reviews. I know there was a review about one of their kids being verbally aggressive with another individual while he was working there. But that review is gone... hmmm. Same thing happened to me. While these low IQ individuals are attempting to use hand signals to back up vehicles 5 feet, one gal tried to stop me in the middle of the road so they could back out. Um. No. You're not...