Work success for local youth
Published 9:45 pm Thursday, July 23, 2015
Keandra Holliman works on the computer at the Parks and Recreation administrative office as part of the Summer Work Success Program.
Aaron Porter has learned to take responsibility in his own hands this summer.
On Thursday, responsibility came in the form of a vacuum cleaner for the 18-year-old rising senior at King’s Fork High School. He was tasked with vacuuming the rugs at the East Suffolk Recreation Center as part of his work duties.
Porter isn’t exactly a regular city employee, though he is indeed earning a paycheck. He is one of about 60 participants in the Summer Work Success Program.
Aaron Porter vacuums a rug at the entrance to the fitness room in the East Suffolk Recreation Center.
“I wanted to join the program to build growth and work from there,” said the rising senior at King’s Fork High School. “It’s actually better than what I thought it would be. I really like it.”
The program is for young people ages 16 to 21 who come from low-income households, said Rickeda Fofana, youth outreach coordinator for the city. Young people are working for minimum wage — $7.25 an hour — about 28 hours a week in several city departments, including Libraries, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Public Utilities, Capital Programs, Social Services, Planning and Community Development and the Suffolk Animal Care Center.
“It’s a great opportunity for introducing them to the workforce,” Fofana said. “They interview, so they have to earn it. It’s not given.”
About 120 applications were received for the 60 positions this year.
Terry Mitchell, a 19-year-old Lakeland graduate who will attend Virginia Union University this fall, is in his second year with the program.
“I wanted to get a working experience so it can help me in the real world when I’m older,” he said. “I learned how to have a better work ethic and be on time, because with a job I have to be on time at all times and pay more attention.”
Mitchell said he will major in mass communications and wants to be a broadcaster, but he’s also enjoyed working with the kids in the Parks and Recreation summer programs this year.
Terry Mitchell, 19, who is participating in the city’s Summer Work Success Program, shoots hoops with Jaden Knight at Booker T. Washington Recreation Center on Thursday. Mitchell is working with children in the city’s various summer recreation programs.
Keandra Holliman, 20, also is in her second year with the program. She works at the front desk of Parks and Recreation headquarters.
Her workdays mostly consist of answering the phones, taking payments for programs and providing various other customer assistance.
“I learned how to answer the phone, provide customer service and computer skills,” she said. She is in school at Tidewater Community College for social science and wants to be a teacher, she said.
Alexis Hill, 16, has worked at the front desk of the East Suffolk Recreation Center.
“I knew I would enjoy helping people, working with people and providing great customer service,” she said about why she signed up. “I love it so far. I want to come back next year. I’ve picked up a lot of customer service.”
The rising senior at Nansemond River High School also said she would recommend the program for other young people.
Alexis Hill works at the East Suffolk Recreation Center as part of the Summer Work Success Program.
“I think people would enjoy doing this,” she said. “Especially when you’re bored, it gives you something to do during the summer.”
The program isn’t just a benefit to the participants during the summer, Fofana said. Many participants during past years have gained full-time employment thanks to the experience they gained through the Summer Work Success Program. Some work for the very city departments they served during the program, and others work outside the city government as well.
“It’s been great,” Fofana said. “Employment on a full-time basis is what we’re trying to do.”
