East Orange Youth Work Program Ends With Salute To Sheila Oliver

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Recently departed Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver was a strong advocate for youth empowerment. And it’s only fitting that the late East Orange resident was honored at the culmination of an annual summer youth work program in her hometown, officials say.

Last week, the City of East Orange celebrated the end of this year's Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) with an annual festival for its teen participants.

The SWEP program, facilitated through the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training (MOET), pairs up local businesses and organizations with East Orange students to offer them on-the-job work experience. It helps them to develop valuable skillsets for their future careers – while also putting a few dollars in their pockets for the summer.

The program is a smash hit in East Orange, nearly reaching its goal of 500 participants this summer, Mayor Ted Green said.

Students got the chance to work in several industries this year, including hospitals/medical care centers, daycares/recreation programs, restaurants/culinary arts, barbers and stylists, fashion design/seamstress, entrepreneurial development, photography/film production, animation/mural design, and drone operation training.

Each year, the program culminates with its annual SWEPFest, which allows the hardworking teens to network and show off some of the skills they acquired over the summer.

During this year's festival, students utilized the platform to pay tribute to Oliver – who died last week – with a musical tribute, a powerful monologue and encouraging words of unity and praise. Oliver, who lived in East Orange for decades, was born in Newark.

• See Related: Essex County Native Sheila Oliver Dies; NJ 'Hero' Had Deep Local Roots
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East Orange city officials also noted that this year’s event also included appearances from some well-known musicians.

“The event also lent its stage to musical performances from hip-hop artists Lil Mama, Joshua Marley and AceDaFace, as well as a special guest appearance from one of the most influential artists of our time, Ms. Lauryn Hill, who made it known that she was born right here in the great city of East Orange,” officials wrote.

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“Whether our students choose to go to college, or pursue an apprenticeship, we strive to create and sustain opportunities that will set the young people of our city up for success,” Green said.

Businesses and organizations that are interested in contributing to the SWEP program can contact LaDonna Johns, Esq., MOET manager, at 973-677-8914 or Ladonna.Johns@eastorange-nj.gov.

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