A youth workforce development program called Learn 2 Earn is in full swing through the Recreation Department. It just completed its first and second phases with a cohort of 10 students. The program was initially proposed over a decade ago by Anthony Hamm of Pathways Alternative High School, who runs a successful youth entrepreneurship and workforce development program. Unfortunately, the infrastructure, personnel and funding were not available at that time. When LaToya Fisher was hired as the recreation program supervisor, Recreation Department Director Greg Varda approached her about instituting a youth employment preparation program for youth 15 to 18, using American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Greenbelt City Council approved.
Hamm worked with Fisher and Anne Oudemans to design and implement the program and served as a consultant/advisor.
Nine students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School and one from DuVal High School make up the first cohort: two seniors, seven juniors and one sophomore.
Topics and Workshops
Phase One – Ready, of the three-phase program, ran from October through March. Tim Mitchell, who organized a youth entrepreneurship program some years ago with the CHEARS Earth Squad, facilitated these twice monthly, 90-minute workshops. Special guests helped youth explore specific topics: skill assessment, how to network, job interview preparation (mock interviews and negotiating in the job market), financial literacy, work ethic (being on time, dressing appropriately and putting your best self forward), resumé building and entrepreneurship.
Bill, a 19-year-old from Franklin Park, spoke with the group about business ownership, an interest expressed by some of the youth. He shared his journey of beginning B.I.L.L Media two years ago at age 17 and offered insights of what to think about when starting a small business. One question that made Fisher pause: can the participants sign their names on documents? Cursive writing is no longer taught in schools. She is going to look into that.
Program Incentives
The program included stipends and incentives for those who performed well. Those who showed up on time received special responsibilities: master of custodial arts, attendance taker, timekeeper and distributing information. After the first six weeks participants were eligible to receive $75 for good attendance (only one absence, excused in advance), increased to $100 for the next six-week session. Extra money could be earned by winning some of the workshop trivia exercises.
At the Phase One completion ceremony participants received business cards with a LinkedIn account, business card holders, customized pens, a Learn 2 Earn padfolio, a certificate of program completion, a certificate for financial literacy and a gift card. Participants were thrilled that the mayor, city councilmembers, other city officials and guest speakers came to celebrate their achievements.
Internship Opportunities
For Phase Two – Get Set, Recreation staff reached out to local businesses based on the interests of the participants. For example, a participant interested in family law may obtain a paid placement with the Johnine Clark law firm, located in Greenbelt. Greenbelt Access Television (GATe) will offer an internship for the summer for students interested in animation and video production. Realtor Kim Kash has also expressed an interest in having an intern. The hope is to locate local Greenbelt businesses first for placements and later look beyond the city’s boundaries. Some participants are interested in trades like HVAC and landscaping, so Fisher will speak with Brian Kim from Public Works about their summer employment program. Staff are also searching for businesses to address other areas of interest such as information technology, fashion, medicine, media and business management.
Workforce Experience
In Phase Three – Go, participants go into the workforce and gain experience either through a summer internship or longer-term employment. The difference with this youth workforce program is the determination to place the participants with companies and organizations that align with their passions and interests discovered during the Phase One assessment process, according to Fisher. The program’s internships are seasonal for students still attending school. However, one senior from DuVal was able to secure a 9-to-5 job in the maintenance department of Six Flags Park after completing the program. This participant will have a long-term placement opportunity. For Fisher, placing participant interest first was essential if the program is to be successful (and that included their snack preferences).
Business Involvement
Fisher mentioned that, since not all businesses can offer a paid internship, there are other types of opportunities to participate with the program, such as mentoring, coming in to speak with the youth about work expectations or helping to review resumés. The Greenbelt business community is encouraged to reach out to the Recreation Department to assist with the Learn 2 Earn program.
Sheila Tilert, executive director of GATe, learned about this program through Anthony Hamm and later met with Fisher to learn more. She is excited to be a business partner of Learn 2 Earn and wished that this type of program was available to her when she was in high school. Tilert expects that many youth who are interested in working in video production are unaware that it is a good possibility for them. She envisions that the intern will work to teach video production classes with Creative Kids Camp and film the productions created by Chris Cherry. They will also learn to edit and produce a completed video.
Participant Feedback
When Khadijah Samiya first joined Learn 2 Earn, she was under the impression that it was just going to be another sit-and-take notes career workshop – go over resumés in one session and how to communicate better in another. She realized that this program was so much more. Participants needed to consider their long-term goals, especially after learning their skill interest. Samiya said that, as a high school senior, it’s stressful to think even about the next few months.
For Samiya the activities in this program really helped in breaking everything down and taking it one small step at a time. The program has helped improve her leadership skills and taught her how to work better with a team. She is able to communicate better, carry herself better both professionally and personally, build a professional network, ask the right questions and so much more.
Outreach
The program was advertised through fliers distributed during the Labor Day Festival and via Robert Goldberg-Strassler, during Cookies on the Bridge outings. Frank Jones and Brian Butler spoke with Eleanor Roosevelt High School students who frequent the Springhill Lake Recreation Center to ensure that youth from Greenbelt West had an opportunity to participate in the program.
When asked if they had advertised on TikTok, Fisher laughed and said the city has Instagram but not TikTok. Maybe some of the participants will do a TikTok one day about their experiences in the Learn 2 Earn program.
Fisher is appreciative of the support that the program has garnered so far and hopes that more local Greenbelt businesses will step up and participate in any way that they can.