NewBridge summer youth employment counselor Savion Simon and participants Olivia Meola and Rishika Dubey packaged pasta at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey last summer.
Morris County teenagers ages 14 to 18 can now register for NewBridge’s free summer youth employment program, which teaches career and life skills and includes a community service component.
Funded by Morris County, the program runs four weeks. Participants attend for free and can choose from two sessions, June 27 through July 21 or July 25 to Aug. 18. The program can accommodate up to 17 students each session.
“Teens need to learn skills that will help them succeed in real life,” said NewBridge Career Placement Coordinator Irene Candelaria. “In a world of quick change, teenagers need the right combination of soft skills sets, such as writing a resume, critical thinking, job searching, giving back to the community, networking, budgeting, and being flexible.”
The program meets in small-group sessions; participants can enroll in either a virtual session on Mondays, or in person on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Professionals in a variety of careers will speak weekly during the in-person sessions.
NewBridge will supervise weekly community service projects on Thursdays at a Morris County park, Habitat for Humanity, and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The fourth Thursday is reserved for mock interviews, drawing on all the students learn during the program, Candelaria said.
Teens who enrolled last summer gave the program high marks. Randolph High School sophomore Rishika Dubey said the program gave her practical training that schools don’t generally offer, such as resume writing and job interview practice. “It brings together a community, and people learn with real-life examples,” she said.
The program includes transportation and snacks. The deadline to apply is May 31. Call 973-939-2423 or email Candelaria at icandelaria@newbridge.org.
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