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Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 8/26/2015
Contact:
Ellen M. Ganley, Director of Development 508 762-9807
EGanley@WCAC.net
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More than a Paycheck - YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program
300+
Youth benefitted from meaningful employment opportunities
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Worcester, Massachusetts - As the summer of 2015 draws to a close, so too does the YouthWorks Summer Jobs program, which provided more than 300 youth a meaningful paid employment experience in a variety of settings throughout the City. Funded with $500,000 from the Commonwealth Corporation, a $10,000 grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, $11,000 from the City of Worcester, as well as Community Service Block Grant funds, YouthWorks provided 349 youth jobs for the summer of 2015. The program is administered by the Worcester Community Action Council.
WCAC will host an end of season Ice Cream Social for YouthWorks participants on Friday, August 28th from 2-4 p.m. for youth to collect their final paycheck of the program. Local media invited to attend to meet and mingle with YouthWorks Summer 2015 participants.
Worcester Community Action Council
484 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Worcester
3 p.m.
Friday, August 28th
Much more than a paycheck, however, YouthWorks provides income eligible youth 18 hours of work readiness training, 6-7 weeks of meaningful paid work experience, and daily supervision and case management support.
Special Projects Coordinator for WCAC's Job & Education Center Kelsey Lamoreaux said, "
You definitely see the transformation, no matter what program they're in- it challenges them and they grow. Earning a check on a weekly basis gives them such a sense of achievement and independence. These are real-world skills that they might not ever see until they get their first job. This gets kids in the door where they can learn the skills they need."
Now in its 11th year, Worcester's "YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program" was established in May of 2005, with a $167,000 grant from the state's Commonwealth Corporation - directed to the City, and developed through Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. to create summer jobs for low-income, inner city youth between the ages of 14 and 21. With a grant- required 20% match developed from private funding, 102 paid summer jobs were created at 18 separate work sites. Since that time, WCAC has provided more than 3,500 youth a summer job experience.
WCAC is responsible for all phases of the YouthWorks program; job development and placement, recruitment and eligibility, work readiness training, site monitoring and safety adherence, distribution of a weekly payroll, case management and constant communication with all partners. WCAC works closely with all State and Local Representatives to secure additional youth employment funds, as well as with many public and private sector employers to increase job availability for youth.
"WCAC thanks the more than 75 local companies and partners for stepping up as mentors or "action heroes" as we like to call them," said WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis. "They are providing important, first-job opportunities which establish a strong foundation for life-long learning and earning for local youth. We have a pay-it-forward approach, we encourage all local businesses to join us."
Meet some YouthWorks participants
 Louis Portillo
Entering freshman year at Quinsigamond Community College where he intends to study criminal justice with an end goal of becoming a prosecutor.
In his first summer with the YouthWorks program, he worked at the reception desk at the Family Health Center of Worcester, where he was responsible for answering more than 500 calls each day.
"I love working with people," he said. "Through the YouthWorks program you are not only making money but fostering skills, meeting mentors and making connections. I also learned a lot about the values of being on time and other professional courtesies."
 Daizy Santiago
Entering senior year at Burncoat High School. Wants to be a Kindergarten teacher one day.
In her first summer with the YouthWorks program, she worked
as camp counselor for YMCA's summer recreation program, working with children ages 3-11.
"I would definitely recommend this program to other kids," she said. "I've had a lot of different experiences and learned a lot about things I didn't know. This job helped me a lot career wise."
Daizy is pictured here (on the right) with fellow YouthWorks participant Aaliyah Johnson.
 Joshua Roman
Entering freshman year at Worcester State University.
In his second year with the YouthWorks program, he worked with the recreation program for youth, ages 6-16, living at Wellington Apartments.
"I learned a lot about professionalism," he said, noting that he really e
njoyed being a 'big brother' to many of the kids particularly during field trips to places such as Six Flags and Hampton Beach.
Joshua is pictured here (on left) with Sarmad Maarij, his YouthWorks case manager
 Andreyna Torres
Entering senior year at South High School.
In her second year with the YouthWorks program, she worked as an assistant within the property management office of the Main South Community Development Corporation.
"Working has helped me improve my reading and writing and taught me to behave in a professional manner, control my emotions and to be kind to and respectful of others," she said. "I honestly don't think I could have found a job on my own. This has kept me out of trouble - I'm earning a paycheck, am saving money.... having responsibilities and learning that life is more than just hanging around with friends."
Maria Canales
Site supervisor at Family Health Center of Worcester.
"We love helping people. So we love giving these kids a meaningful work experience. They are treated like any other employee. It's a great experience for them - they learn responsibility, being on time, they learn a lot. And by the end they've had such a great experience they are recommending the program to others," she said, noting that t
hree summer YouthWorks participants have subsequently been hired into permanent positions at the Family Health Care Center.
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About WCAC
Celebrating its 50th year, the Worcester Community Action Council is the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.
Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.
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