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A ceremony honored 23 students from 14 high schools who spent five weeks receiving job training, college preparatory coaching and career counseling.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Northeastern held a ceremony recently to honor the 23 students from 14 Bay Area high schools who spent five weeks on the university’s Oakland campus receiving job training, college preparatory coaching and career counseling.
But they received so much more.
The ceremony was a time for the students to reflect on working in 10 departments across campus, while gaining skills in farming, sustainability, administration, community outreach and teaching.
They participated in seminars on topics like college essay writing, creating a LinkedIn profile, the power of networking, and maximizing brain power from college hosts and community partners.
From orientation to graduation, it had been quite a summer.
“To me, it was getting paid to hang out with little kids, but in reality, I was learning so much,” said a rising senior from Hayward, California, who worked at the children’s school on campus — assisting teachers with classes, playtime and gaining insights into what goes into engaging young children in learning.
The Summer Youth Employment Program is part of Northeastern’s Community to Community (C2C) Impact Engine, a group of scholars, researchers, policymakers, students and community organizers who use research-driven analysis to drive social change through community partnerships.
The program was launched on the Boston campus by Alicia Modestino, an associate professor of economics in Northeastern’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.
It was expanded to the Bay Area with the help of Carrie Maultsby-Lute, head of partnerships for the Oakland campus, and Alli Chagi-Starr, C2C’s regional director.
“We have an opportunity to change a life at a key moment,” Chagi-Starr said.
The high school students who worked at the university’s farm — 2.5 acres of organic urban agriculture with an emphasis on sustainability, education and partnerships — learned how it connects the campus to the community by providing fresh produce and flowers.
“We would be harvesting for a subscription program, and it was great to see the smiles when they came to pick up their boxes,” said a rising senior from Maybeck High in Berkeley, California.
The parents of the high school students were equally impressed with Northeastern’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which grew from 10 participants in Oakland last year to 23.
“It’s such an amazing first job,” said parent Eric Lenchner, beaming with pride. “My first job was nowhere near as enriching.”
The experience will no doubt help students land a second job, third job and so on.
Malcolm Stanley helped make sure of that. The director of major gifts and donor relations at the YMCA of San Francisco led students in a resume writing workshop.
The students’ eyes were opened wide.
“I liked how he gave an example of his and showed it to us,” said a rising senior from John F. Kennedy High in Fremont, California. “I really want a resume like his.”
How popular has Northeastern’s program become in the Bay Area? One high schooler took the bus to campus from Burlingame, California — over 30 miles away.
“These programs give young people a leg up to successfully access higher education and quality careers,” Chagi-Starr said.
The students who spoke at a recent ceremony listed all the job skills they gained — time management, attention to detail, meeting deadlines — but what they really emphasized was the relationships they formed working with their campus hosts.
The mentors included Roslyn Short, who shared financial resources with students, including tips on applying for scholarships such as the Northeastern Oakland Opportunity Scholarship, which is available to Oakland Unified School District High School students and Pell Grant-eligible City of Oakland residents.
“I want you to advocate for yourself,” Short said.
When asked who wanted to attend Northeastern, 10 hands immediately shot up.
“I want to challenge you to dream really big,” said Maultsby-Lute, whose workshop helped the students create LinkedIn profiles.
“Seeing you all on campus has been the highlight of the year,” she said.
In addition to receiving college and career coaching, the students also gained experience in things like video filming and editing. Some worked with Morgan Billington to produce a module for incoming students that explains the university’s sustainability efforts.
Billington said the relationships built over the five weeks will last forever.
“Please, please reach out to us when you need recommendation letters or any advice,” she told the students.
The expansion of the Summer Youth Employment Program in Oakland is evidence of Northeastern’s commitment to empowering Bay Area youth.
“We’re growing this program so the university can continue to support more students as we expand into communities,” Chagi-Starr said.
Sofia Navarro, executive director of the Oakland Workforce Development Board, has offered her full support of the program.
“We look forward to supporting summer youth employment opportunities for all young people in Oakland because we know these programs play a crucial role in personal development, economic stability, educational success, and overall community well-being,” Navarro said.
After students gathered their certificates, gift bags and posed for photos, they dispersed into small groups, talking with campus mentors and making plans to stay in touch.
One car, driving toward the campus gates, stopped in the middle of the road. A student’s arm extended from the passenger window, taking a photo of the Lokey Business School building.
A memento of a summer job, but also perhaps a promise to return.