Local program helps connect young workers find summer employment

By Lori O' Brien

Correspondent



Throughout the Greater Springfield area this summer, young people and businesses will once again team up for "One Youth - One Job."

One Youth - One Job is a coordinated effort by the Regional Employment Board (REB) of Hampden County to align the different resources in Hampden County dealing with summer employment, according to Kathryn Kirby, Youth Employment Coordinator.

Kirby will soon be pounding the pavement in search of businesses to participate in the initiative.

For Joseph Peters, president of Universal Plastics in Holyoke, the initiative is a perfect fit for his company.

"We believe strongly that young people need opportunities to see and participate in the workplace environment in order to help them make choices for their future," Peters said.

What makes One Youth - One Job unique is that "it prepares youth before being referred out to an employment opportunity," Kirby said. "This helps the youth to be more prepared to handle a working environment. Plus, youth are screened to match the job order."

One Youth - One Job is funded by state, federal and private funds, and is "critical in the development of work readiness skills that will hopefully sustain a youth's ability to find and keep work," Kirby added.

"Too often our young people are not able to make the connection from school to work because they lack the skills," she said. "This most often means they fall through the cracks and become disconnected. We're hoping One Youth - One Job can help youth reconnect to the working world. Youth also are able to earn a paycheck and learn some basic skills."

Peters said his company provides summer employment for youth every year, usually in factory maintenance or light production jobs.

"Companies like ours in manufacturing need to develop interest for the young people in our workplaces," he said. "We really hope to provide them with a good experience in the workplace and in our case to introduce the manufacturing environment as a viable career path for them."

Kirby added that the benefits to businesses like Universal Plastics are "tremendous."

"First of all, youth are fully screened for job readiness skills, then youth are screened to match the job order," she said, adding "this helps meet the needs of the employer."

Of course, young people also benefit from One Youth One Job by learning basic skills to help them navigate through the workplace, as well as earn a paycheck and have work experiences to add to their resumes, Kirby said.

Young people from the ages of 14 to 21 are also still being recruited for One Youth - One Job and interested individuals can contact Kirby for more information. Young people participating in the initiative have to complete a 10-hour "Workplace Readiness Certificate Curriculum" that includes learning professional communication and listening skills, completing a job application and writing a cover letter. Also, the curriculum includes writing resumes, learning to develop interpersonal relationships at work and reviewing job interviewing skills.

"We really expect them to be enthusiastic about their jobs, to show up for work each day and to give it their best effort," Peters said.

For businesses or young people interested in participating in the One Youth - One Job initiative, contact Kirby at (413) 755-1359 or via e-mail at Kirby@rebhc.org.

One Youth - One Job is a collaborative effort sponsored by the REB, area mayors, Chambers of Commerce, FutureWorks and CareerPoint.