Glen Cove Summer Youth Employment Program Proves Invaluable to Teens

Image via City of Glen Cove

Teens in Glen Cove have been working alongside local businesses and working to help beautify Glen Cove during this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYE) has allowed nearly 600 teens, ages 14 to 18, to gain valuable work skills for over 25 years.

Students work in July and August on projects that help beautify the City, kickstart their career network and teach them how to make their own money.

“We instill in our student employees a sense of responsibility, accountability and the importance of communication and teamwork,” said Jacquelyn Yonick, Youth Program Coordinator, City of Glen Cove Youth Bureau and a former Youth Bureau team supervisor from 2002.

This year’s program consists of 29 youths, ages 14 to 18, along with five college students hired as supervisors and a summer program coordinator.

“What better way to invest in the future of Glen Cove than by supporting the desire of our City’s youth to take important steps to becoming responsible members of the workforce and giving our local businesses financial relief by investing in their businesses with smart talent,” Mayor Reggie Spinello said in a statement.

The older teens, ages 16 to 18, work in internship positions where they are given job opportunities at for-profit Glen Cove businesses.

Description of internship:

After a student completes unpaid training provided by the Glen Cove Youth Bureau, which includes completing 30 workshops, 20 community service hours, 10 health and wellness hours and meets the requirement of maintaining a 75 average in school, they are eligible for the program. From there, teen applicants complete a resume, develop customized cover letters and set-up their own interviews with worksites. After student’s interview and a job is secured, the City of Glen Cove will pay for the salary of that individual for the first 100 hours of work in July. The business then pays for the next 100 hours of employment in August.

Younger teens, ages 14 and 15, are named to Green Teams with a SYE supervisor.

Description of Green Teams:

Green Teams complete labor intensive jobs within the City of Glen Cove with Departments and non-profits, such as maintaining trails at Garvies Point, painting fire hydrants and curbs, clearing out lockers and cleaning classrooms at the Glen Cove High School to painting fences at the ball fields, maintaining community gardens and more. Every year the best workers from the Green Team are invited back to work as Assistant Supervisors or interns.

“The Youth Bureau’s philosophy with our internship program is to advance the employability of our City’s teens by providing transferable skills on goal setting, time management, event planning, resume writing, interview techniques, money management skills and how to live a healthy life,” Yonick said.

Participating businesses and not-for-profit organization in the 2015 internship and Green Team program include: The View Grill, Hempstead Harbor Club, Martino Auto Concepts, Glen Cove High School, and City of Glen Cove departments including the Youth Bureau, Public Works, Beautification and the Senior Center.

For more information on Glen Cove’s Summer Youth Program, contact the Glen Cove Youth Bureau at (516) 671-4600.