The Boston Summer Youth Employment Program kicked off its latest edition on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Northeastern University. Approximately 200 Boston teens and young adults attended the orientation, marking the start of a summer that will connect around 10,000 city students with local employers, including Northeastern.
The program aims to provide employment experience to young people, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, and reduce inequality of opportunity. Alicia Modestino, an associate professor of economics at Northeastern’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, heads the research for the program’s evaluation, which has been ongoing since 2015 in partnership with the city of Boston.
Northeastern offers internships within university departments and the opportunity for students to get paid to take the Bridge to Calculus course, which prepares them for advanced math courses. The university also offers a similar summer jobs program on its campus in Oakland, California.
According to Modestino, the summer jobs program has been shown to increase employment and wages, improve academic achievement, teach essential job market skills, and decrease youth involvement with the criminal justice system.
Rashad Cope, deputy chief of the city’s Worker Empowerment Cabinet, emphasized the importance of the program for both employees and employers, as well as the city as a whole. He commended the participants for seizing the opportunity and expressed hope that the experience would lead to continued learning and growth.
The youth participants expressed excitement about the opportunity to gain work experience, improve their resumes, and develop professional skills. Lucy Schneller, a 14-year-old student at Josiah Quincy Upper School, will be working in social media with Northeastern’s office of Off-Campus Student Engagement and Support. Max Hannon, a 15-year-old rising sophomore at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science, is enrolled in the Bridge to Calculus Program as his first-ever summer job.
Ruby Roner, a 14-year-old rising sophomore at The Newman School, and Yanciely Moreta, a 17-year-old rising senior at Boston Community Leadership Academy/McCormack, also shared their enthusiasm for the program. Moreta, who took Advanced Placement precalculus last year, pursued the Bridge to Calculus opportunity to continue learning and prepare for her senior year AP Calculus.
Modestino highlighted Northeastern’s commitment to experiential learning and its mission to bring the outside in through co-ops and other learning experiences. She expressed excitement about hosting the participants and helping them think about their future careers, college, and entry into the workforce.
