Ana, a sixteen-year-old high school student from the Bronx, landed her first job this summer. 

Over six weeks, Ana worked and collaborated in a team of young people to plan, design, and paint an outdoor mural for P.S. 368, The William Lynch School, in Hamilton Heights. “I’m very interested in art,” said Ana. “I’m passionate about painting, creating, and expressing myself through color and design. It’s just amazing.” 

“This is my first time having a job,” said Ana. “It was great having the money, seeing it, and being able to use it. I feel grown a little bit. I feel like I’m getting older. It’s nice to feel grown.”

Ana is among the thousands of young people taking advantage of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides valuable work experience and professional skills for youth. This summer, Catholic Charities Community Services enrolled 1,887 participants in the Summer Youth Employment Program across over 240 worksites — providing a life-changing experience for many young people.

Building Social Skills, Gaining Confidence, and Developing Last Skills

For this worksite at P.S. 368 in Hamilton Heights, Catholic Charities partnered with Creative Art Works, a nonprofit that empowers young people through the visual and multimedia arts. 

“It is a joy to watch the evolution of their artwork,” said Karen Jolicoeur, Executive Director of Creative Art Works.  “Through the mentorship of our talented teaching artists and management staff, they emerge as leaders, become confident presenters, and form meaningful connections as they collaborate with peers.”
 
Mon is a teaching artist who guided Ana and her teammates for the outdoor mural project. “I feel like there’s nothing more important than to combine public art with young people and their vision of the future. It’s very uplifting. It’s very empowering, especially at this age,” said Mon. “It’s uplifting youth voice and their vision — and them as the future leaders.”
 
Thanks to the Summer Youth Employment Program, Ana has not only earned her first paycheck, but she has also gained confidence in her abilities, which will serve her well into the future.

“I’ve never been good at talking in a group of people. I’ve never really been the person to talk,” said Ana. “But now, I get to talk. I’ve learned new ways to express myself.”
 
She has also gained new, long-lasting friends. “It’s just surreal a little bit. I’ve never been part of such a passionate group of artists,” said Ana.

Providing Young People with an Opportunity to Work and Learn

The Summer Youth Employment Program provides valuable work experience to thousands of low-income teens and young adults across the city. The goal of the Summer Youth Employment Program is to fill job openings in communities while helping teens find careers they enjoy. The program employs young adults between the ages of 14 to 24.

“A lot of our participants come from low-income background neighborhoods,” said Bobby Gates, Program Director of Youth Employment and College Readiness at Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, a division of Catholic Charities Community Services.  

“The Summer Youth Employment Program helps our young people develop the necessary skills to become financially stable throughout the summertime, keep them off the streets, and help support their family,” said Bobby. “We are giving youth a pathway to careers. We are opening doors. We have over 240 worksites — from hospitals and law firms to retail and restaurants.”

Participants explored different interests and career pathways, developed productive workplace habits, and engaged in learning experiences that strengthened their social, civic, and leadership skills. They also received a valuable paycheck — up to $2,000 for older workers in the program. The paycheck was a lifeline for lower income families and for participants with college expenses.

Providing young people with opportunities to further their education and career prospects is crucial to strengthening our communities.

“It’s one of the most beautiful things to witness,” said Mon. “It’s like watching a flower starting to blossom. Young people start to find their groove. They start to feel more confident.”

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