Thousands of Boston youth learn valuable skills for the future through Mayor Walsh’s summer jobs program
Boston, MA – Citing Mayor Walsh’s record of delivering opportunities for Bostonians, community leaders and young people from all over Boston praised Mayor Walsh on the first day of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program.
Every year, over 10,000 Boston youth participate in the program at hundreds of Boston businesses and nonprofit organizations where they learn valuable and important skills that set them up for future success. The program runs from July to August and includes interview training, enrichment workshops, and skill development on the job. At the conclusion, students are given feedback on their performance.
Students were able to apply for these opportunities through SuccessLink, a streamlined online platform used for summer hiring that was launched under Mayor Walsh’s leadership in 2015.
Members of the community affirmed the Mayor’s efforts on connecting young people with summer jobs:
Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council (the organization that prepares and matches Boston public high school students with private sector opportunities)
“Mayor Walsh took charge of the summer jobs program immediately upon taking office in 2014. He has recruited over 120 new private sector employers already, and this summer students will be working in hospitals, financial services, life sciences, and Boston’s growing technology sector.”
Paulo De Barros, director of the Teen Center at St. Peter’s at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston
“For many young people, a job is the only thing standing between them and a poor choice. Because of Mayor Walsh’s efforts to increase the number of summer jobs and work with businesses and community based organizations, thousands of teens are learning lifelong skills that will help them to move forward in life and experience incredible, positive change. We’re grateful for his leadership in this area, and look forward to our continued work ahead.”
Mike Joyce, vice president of Programming at Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester is excited to partner with Mayor Walsh and all of our employment partners to put 100+ teens to work this Summer at our three Clubhouse locations. We greatly appreciate the Mayor’s advocacy for not only the teens we serve, but those across the city, to ensure these valued employment opportunities continue to be made available. These positions will give teens the opportunity to develop their leadership, communication skills and responsibility while assisting community based organizations like ours in service delivery to our families. For many it will be their entry into the working world and a chance to develop a resume and a positive mentoring relationship with an adult supervisor.”
D’Andra Evans , 17, Dorchester Resident
“Because of Mayor Walsh’s Successlink I now have an amazing job this summer where I am meeting a lot of new people and having fun with kids!”
Alana McCreary , 16, Mattapan Resident
“The Successlink website was really easy to fill out and help me get connected with a cool job.”
Dominick Jackson , 20, South End Resident
“I’ve used Successlink every year since I was a freshman in high school and now I’m in a leadership role at B-SAFE helping to guide and manage younger teens and youth.”
Abigail Berganza , 15 , Roslindale Resident
“Our job is the best! We get to be a guest at the Zoo, but also help others!”