MV Quarterly Happenings | Volume III | August 2025 | | Summer YouthWorks 2025: Empowering 327 Youth through Meaningful Employment | | YouthWorks participants Osvin, Isabella, Steven, Ashley, and Andy pose with Issandel (center) after a successful summer working as coaches at Beyond Soccer. | |
We’re proud to share that 327 young people from our community enrolled in this summer’s YouthWorks 2025 program! Thanks to the dedication of our MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board and Youth Team, participants were placed in jobs that aligned with their interests and gained valuable hands-on experience—working between 60–100 hours over the summer.
Each participant also completed 15 hours of Signal Success training, a professional development curriculum created by Commonwealth Corporation to build workplace readiness, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Programming officially kicked off on July 7th and will wrap up on August 15th. We couldn’t be prouder of our youth participants for their hard work, growth, and commitment—and we’re equally proud of the incredible team and employer partners that made this summer possible!
| | Summer YouthWorks Highlights! | | |
YouthWorks participant Disha Patel spent the summer gaining hands-on experience as an IT Assistant at Lawrence General Hospital’s IT Department. She was guided by Elijah Fabian, a former YouthWorks participant who now works full-time as an IT Technician at the hospital.
We’re incredibly proud of Elijah’s professional growth and grateful he could pay it forward by mentoring Disha in her own career journey this summer.
| | |
Monique Say, a two-year returning YouthWorks participant and rising senior at Clark University, spent this summer serving as an Administrative Assistant at the City of Lawrence’s Senior Center.
Studying International Development, Monique continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to community service and professional growth. We’re incredibly proud to have her as part of the YouthWorks family and inspired by her continued dedication to making a difference through public service.
| | |
Our Tier 2 & 3 youth are making the most of summer with incredible experiences!
At Salem State University- Upward Bound, students are diving into college prep and academic enrichment.
Youth leaders are making a difference as counselors at the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club.
And meet Rafely Garcia (far right), capturing summer moments as a Photographer for LPS TV!
Proud of all our youth stepping up, learning, and leading this summer!
| | |
Youth Snapshots:
Nathanael practicing wound care techniques—hands-on learning at its best!
Two of our youth collaborating on their final mental health presentation, focused on spreading awareness and support in their communities.
| | |
Health & Wellness Career Pathways at MassHire MVWB!
We’re proud to celebrate the 34 youth who successfully completed our Health & Wellness Project-Based Learning Program!
Each participant earned their Heart saver First Aid Certification from the American Heart Association and worked on projects highlighting mental health and community wellness.
| | "We don't just support the child- we support the whole family, "says Marte-Dikone. With the help of CommCorp, MassHire MVWB, and other community partners, we're building a generation of resilient, purpose-driven leaders." | | Youth Department Staff: Yeang Leng, Erykah Santiago, Ana Gonzalez, Cristy Gomez, Cecelia Lunde, and Yevette Garcia. | |
Engaging our Employer Partners
& Beyond!
It’s been a busy and exciting year at MassHire as we strengthened connections and built new ones across the Merrimack Valley!
From hosting our MassHire DESE Connecting Activities and YouthWorks Workforce Connections event—where we welcomed new employer partners and highlighted the benefits of joining our mission—to sharing impactful info on Youth WIOA, Connecting Activities, and YouthWorks programs, we’ve been all about collaboration.
At our event, partners rolled up their sleeves for mini-group discussions on improving youth resources in our community—real conversations, real ideas, real impact.
We also brought everyone together for our YouthWorks Employer Orientation Breakfast, where we successfully oriented new employers to the YouthWorks program and celebrated those helping shape our future workforce!
Thank you to all our partners for your energy, ideas, and commitment.
| | | Alethea Raybeck, Senior Director of YDO with Executive Director Mark Kampert, guest speaker at Workforce Connections event. Group photo from our Employer Breakfast, highlighting community collaboration. Executive Director Frank Bonet delivers opening remarks at the Workforce Connections event. | |
MassHire at Lawrence Partnership's for their "Know your City" Series.
In March, our teams from MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board and Career Center had the great opportunity to participate in the Lawrence Partnership’s “Know Your City” event series. We connected with community members to share valuable workforce development resources—everything from job training programs to career support services designed to help residents grow their skills and find meaningful employment.
Being part of this series allowed us to strengthen our ties with the community and highlight how MassHire is here to support individuals at every step of their career journey.
| | | Celebrating Success: ESOL Advanced Manufacturing – Cohort 2 Graduation! | |
In June, we proudly celebrated the second successful graduation of our ESOL Advanced Manufacturing training program, part of the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) Donnelly Grant supported by Commonwealth Corporation and operated at Greater Lawrence Technical School's Adult Education Program!
Special thanks to Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS) for hosting a thoughtful and inspiring ceremony. This hardworking Cohort 2 of seven individuals earned their Certificates of Completion, and achieved their MACWIC certification—a key credential in the manufacturing field.
| | | Morning Motivation with MassHire! | | |
Our MassHire team loves kicking off the day with smiles, laughs, and a dose of wisdom during our Morning Affirmations and “Advice to Our Younger Selves” sessions! From “trust the process” to “don’t be afraid to take up space,” we share powerful reminders that still resonate today.
It’s a great reminder to start each day with intention, self-belief, and a little fun!
To our readers: What advice would YOU give your younger self? Take a moment today to reflect—and share a word of encouragement with someone who might need it.
| | | | |
Thank You to Our Incredible Connecting Activities School Partners!
As we wrap up another impactful summer, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our Connecting Activities high school partners across the Merrimack Valley!
Your continued support and collaboration have made a real difference—from hosting professional development workshops, assisting with resume building, and actively participating in career and job fairs, you’ve helped empower our students with the tools they need for future success.
We’re truly grateful for these partnerships and look forward to continuing this important work together in the upcoming school year. Here’s to more growth, opportunity, and shared success!
| | | |
A New Chapter for the MassHire
Merrimack Valley Career Center!
| | |
We’re proud to announce that the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) has been selected as the new operator of the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center, effective July 1, 2025!
GLCAC brings a wealth of experience in workforce development, education, and community empowerment. We’re excited about this newly established partnership and the opportunities it brings to expand job training, strengthen employer connections, and increase access to vital career services across the Merrimack Valley.
Congratulations to the GLCAC team—we look forward to collaborating and continuing to build a stronger, more resilient workforce together!
| | | | |
