By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
Report For America Corps Member,
tmcqueen@afro.com
Applications for YouthWorks 2023 will open on Jan. 3 for interested Baltimore city youth and local organizations that would like to provide opportunities.
YouthWorks provides job opportunities for Baltimore residents between the ages of 14 and 21.
Applications will close for youth on April 7, and worksite applications will close on April 11. The five-week session begins on July 10 and ends on Aug. 11.
“YouthWorks presents a place for newly eligible workers to gain connections, experience and transferable skills,” said S. Rasheem, YouthWorks program manager. “It’s a great opportunity for our young people to be involved in building up their communities.”
YouthWorks provides various work options from camp counseling to placement at workouts in the engineering and graphic design fields.
“For many, this is their first job, their first paycheck, ” said Rasheem. “In my early days with YouthWorks, I was an art teacher that helped create murals throughout the city with the adolescents. I saw firsthand how working in the community helps to keep youth connected and create positive change.”
YouthWorks reported that 5,819 youth were assigned to worksites in 2022. The program placed at least one young person at over 400 worksites.
As program manager, Rasheem’s goal is to ensure there are enough jobs for youth 14-21 in Baltimore as well as enough businesses that can recruit youth.
“YouthWorks provides exposure and opportunity for students,” said Stephanie Carter Bagley, president of SCB Management Solutions, which has served as a worksite for YouthWorks. “This is a life-changing opportunity for all parties and with it, I aim to give back as much as I have been given throughout my career.”
Bagley encourages all businesses in Baltimore to get involved with YouthWorks.
“Every business that can hire youth should,” said Bagley.
Bagley has hired two people, one of which is now graduated and working with her as an administrative assistant.
She said she is open to hiring anyone who can bring their unique skills to the management and consulting industry–including graduates from four-year universities and community college students.
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