City lends youth a hand, paycheck with summer jobs program

      By Christopher H. Roberts

     When choosing that “fondly” remembered first job, Somerville youth now have a welcome alternative to the seemingly endless summers of bagging groceries or scooping ice cream, thanks to a city program now in its second year.
       “Jobs are key to keeping kids safe and productive through the summer months. Without the school day structure, kids may be tempted to hang out in the streets. Just as we did last summer, we’re giving them alternatives,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.
        Through Curtatone’s summer jobs program, interested city youth between the ages of 16-22 are guaranteed summer employment along with professional skills training, said Curtatone.
        Modeled after a similar program in Chelsea, this year’s program doubled in size to 200 participants, he said.
        The program ensures that Somerville’s young adults have alternatives to the oft-intimidating first job hunt as well as more dangerous and destructive activities, he said.
       “There is a co-relation between a drop in youth violence and the existence of such programs. We’re giving kids positive choices,” he said.
         After filling out an application, job candidates were formally interviewed at City Hall by a panel of city employees, including members of youth services and the mayor’s staff. Based on the participants’ interests and skill set, they were then placed in a job deemed most fitting, said Curtatone.
        Jobs were available in both the private and public sector, ranging from clerical positions in the mayor’s office or police department to jobs with tow truck companies or the Department of Public Works, he said.
        Building off of the success of a smaller program last summer, this year there is more emphasis on job skills training. All participants attended a day-long orientation seminar, with motivational speakers emphasizing leadership, job responsibility, and the importance of professionalism. With the added benefit of skills training, the program ensures that participating youth are receiving more than just a paycheck, he said.
       Those too young to receive jobs are encouraged to participate in a program called Leadership in Training/Councilor in Training, he said.
      “It’s a great place for younger kids to get real hands-on experience about working with others and learning about responsibility and respect,” said Curtatone.
       The younger program also gives future participants in the jobs program an inside track, he said.
       Curtatone said this year’s expanded program is the result of increased funding. Somerville had a similar program that was funded federally in the 1970s, but funds ran out and the program ended before Curtatone had a chance to participate. In recent years there were limited programs under both Curtatone’s and former mayor Dorothy Kelley-Gay’s administrations, but these too were limited due to being financially hamstrung.
        The program was doubled this year because of funding gleaned entirely through private donations, the mayor said.
        In the future, Curtatone said he hopes to expand the program to feature even more training, including resume-building.