Left-right, Anne Berrigan, Nir Budathoki, Reham Isam. (Photo by Alexsandra Bich)
The Westfield YouthWorks program has their youth working in many different businesses environments.
One of them is Glitz Glamour n’ Elegance, a new full service florist and bridal accessory boutique. Stephanie Wesolowski, the owner of the business, hired YouthWorks employees because she believes everyone deserves a chance.
“Reham, Alex, Nir, and Courtney have all been very helpful me,” she said. “Thanks to Alex, I have a beautiful brochure to hand out to funeral homes.”
Reham, Nir, and Courtney have helped with odd jobs such as inventory, sorting Swarovski crystals, organizing and making jewelry. The final week of the program the girls will be helping Stephanie move her shop to a new location at 336 Elm Street. Stephanie has been very happy to have these girls work for her and will be sad to see them go. She would highly recommend the YouthWorks program to other employers.
“We need to utilize our youths’ talent and drive – not push them away because of the fact that there young,” she said. “I honestly wish high schools had a program like this. It would be very beneficial, but in the meantime we need continue and expand the YouthWorks program!”
Anne Berrigan, Senior Program Manager, Youth Employment Initiatives from Commonwealth Corporatio, recently visited Glitz, Glamour n’ Elegance to conduct an interview with YouthWorks participants, Reham Isam and Nir Budathoki, that will be included in a final report of the summer 2012 YouthWorks programs. Reham told her how appreciative she is that she was selected to be in the program, because otherwise she would not have had a job.
“This has given me valuable job experience,” she said.
Anne Berrigan was very impressed with the work these young ladies have had the opportunity to do while employed at Glitz Glamour ‘N Elegance.
“YouthWorks gives young people a chance to develop the skills and experience they need to enter the work place,” she said. “Local employers are a tremendously important partner in the program. They are helping to train and develop the future workforce and giving teens and young adults a sense of possible career paths.”
