TRENTON, NJ (March 14, 2019) – Mayor Reed Gusciora recently led the kickoff event for the 2019 Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Entering its fourth year, the program is a public-private partnership between the Trenton Mayor’s Office, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rider University and Millhill Child & Family Development.
“Millhill is thrilled to enter the fourth year of the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to provide meaningful employment to Trenton youth who would not have had the opportunity otherwise,” explains Cynthia Oberkofler, Millhill’s Executive Director. “We are excited to partner again with the City of Trenton to continue to offer this life changing program and to shine the light on Trenton youth.”
The Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program gives Trenton youth ages 16-21 access to entry level summer employment with a local nonprofit, private business, or within city government. Youth will receive job readiness training at Rider University and begin employment for six weeks in July. Job readiness training will focus on resume writing, interviewing skills, giving and receiving feedback and presenting a professional image to prepare youth for success. After job training, youth will be matched, based on their area of interest, with opportunities to work in the arts, business, education, culinary, camp counseling, and trade fields for the summer.
The Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides teens with a healthy and constructive experience while supporting positive development and encouraging academic success. For many of the youth this is their first employment opportunity. Over the past three years more than 300 students have successfully completed job training and summer employment.
The event held at Trenton City Hall, welcomed the business community, nonprofits and previous employers to celebrate the launch. Henry, a 2018 program participant who was employed as a camp counselor spoke about his experience and encouraged individuals to partner by stating, “I implore to all you who are listening to me today to employ youths because we are the future and the future needs mentors and by working together the future looks bright!”
Aniya, another youth participant who also worked with children at a Trenton nonprofit last summer stated, “I had a good feeling to know I had a role in making a positive change in children. I helped young people understand how important school is for them.”
Mayor Gusciora along with Michelle Thompkins, Associate Director of Youth Engagement at Millhill called upon private, public and nonprofit sectors to either sponsor or host a youth for the summer. They encouraged businesses to participate in the program by donating $2,000 to cover the cost of employment for one youth.
Youth and employers can apply at www.millhillcenter.org. For more information contact Michelle Thompkins, Associate Director of Youth Engagement at mthompkins@millhillcenter.org.
Donations can be made to the Millhill Foundation at 101 Oakland Street Trenton, NJ 08618 or at www.millhillcenter.org.
Millhill Child & Family Development Corporation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping families in Greater Trenton through educational, counseling, youth engagement, family support services and community collaborations. Founded in 1971, Millhill serves more than 6,500 individuals in the community with the help of dedicated staff, volunteers and financial contributors. We empower lives using an approach that is both individualized and collaborative taking into account the dynamics of the whole family. Services are offered at 101 Oakland Street and 802 Prospect Street in Trenton, NJ. For more information about our programs, please visit www.millhillcenter.org or call (609) 989-7333.
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