YouthWorks employees working with Noble Hospital. Left to right, Bishnu Acharya, Lynette Perez, Yam Karki, Javier Pagan (Submitted Photo)
BOSTON – This week Governor Deval Patrick announced a $12 million investment in the successful YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program as part of his budget proposal for the fiscal year 2015, a $3 million increase over 2014.
YouthWorks gives opportunities to young people from across the Commonwealth seeksing to gain work experience, while simultaneously building stronger and safer communities.
“These jobs are essential to providing our Commonwealth’s at-risk youth with a better opportunity for a brighter future, while reducing youth violence across the Commonwealth,” said Patrick. “I look forward to working with our partners to ensure that YouthWorks remains fully funded this summer.”
YouthWorks provides subsidized employment to low-income and at-risk youths between the ages of 14-21 in 31 communities across the Commonwealth. These employment opportunities provide them with job experience, beneficial career skills and a chance to give back to their communities.
Since the start of Patrick’s tenure on Beacon Hill, the YouthWorks program has grown from a $4.7 million project in 2007 to a $10 million endeavor last summer. Funding for the program is managed by the Commonwealth Corporation through the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. This year’s proposed funding is set to be the largest investment in the program’s history.
In the summer of 2013, 5,175 young people in 31 cities in across the Commonwealth completed summer employment opportunities at a number of sites in western Mass. The fiscal year 2015 investment is projected to serve nearly 6,000 at-risk youths statewide.
YouthWorks employee working at the Camp Moses Boy Scout Camp in Russell last summer. Left to right, YouthWorks Manager Sherry Elander, Camp Staffer Jack Leone, Camp Ranger Jason Boyer, Nikolay Molokvas, Vitaly Molokvas, Steven Rabtor, and Timothy Grimaldi (Submitted photo)
In Westfield, YouthWorks is looking to build upon a successful 2013 summer when 52 youths were employed through the program, and Kathryn Kirby, a youth employment manager for the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, is keeping her fingers crossed that the region will receive level funding for the upcoming summer.
“We received about one million dollars regionally (in Hampden County), about $67,000 of which went to Westfield,” she said. “YouthWorks is for the four gateway cities in the region, Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and Westfield, and we served 600 kids in those four cities last summer.”
Kirby added that about 10 percent of the grant can go to eligible participants outside of those four municipalities, and that her desire is to “absolutely” expand the amount of prospective employees and employers.
“We need small businesses and big businesses alike,” she said. “We’re looking to set kids on the beginning of a career pathway.”
Some of the local employers who participate in the program include Pilgrim Candle, Soups On, Western Mass Hospital, St. Mary’s and Southampton Road Elementary Schools, Vivid Hair Salon, and Westfield State University, who employ young people in such capacities as cashiers, companion and teacher’s assistants, and maintenance staff.
Kirby added that YouthWorks also runs a year-round work program for youths who are out of school and between the ages of 17-21, with about 20 working in the city of Westfield.
“We’re really excited,” she said of the year round program’s growth. “A lot of kids need a job year round to help their families.”
A potential change that legislators are looking at is an index to the minimum wage. Kirby said that workers will receive at least minimum wage, and that they will expand or reduce work hours as needed.
“We try to encourage businesses to hire youths,” she said. “And sometimes by lowering hours, we’re able to put more to work. Last year, $67,000 was meant for 40 kids, but we were able to get 52 kids (into the program).”
