750 youth participating in New Haven summer employment program

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Hundreds of young people across New Haven are taking part in the city’s Youth @ Work summer employment program.

“I’m doing something that I love,” said David Uzuka, a counselor at the Sullivan Academy basketball camp.

It’s a full circle moment for Uzuka. He was a camper at the Sullivan Academy basketball camp and now he’s a counselor, instilling the lessons he learned years ago.

“Teamwork, leadership, working together, all that,” Uzuka said.

The camp is one of the worksites for Youth @ Work. Starting this week, about 750 young people began employment at more than 100 worksites across the city. They’re working up to 25 hours a week and making $16 an hour.

“This gives them an opportunity to learn some job training, some skills, and most importantly a paycheck,” said Tyrese Sullivan, the president of Ready, Inc.

Over the next five weeks, Youth @ Work aims to provide young people with workplace experience, mentoring, and school and community-based enrichment activities.

“We all know that early work experiences serve as the foundation for future success – for their future careers,” said Gwendolyn Williams, the director of the New Haven Youth and Recreation Department.

The participants of this program are 14 to 21 years old and are New Haven residents and/or attend New Haven Public Schools.  This year, everyone who wanted and applied for a job got one.

“We know that it’s a gateway to a set of knowledge and skills that we know are vital for our students,” New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Madeline Negrón said.

But to these young people, they said giving back and helping out is what it’s all about.

“I love working with younger ones, I always have,” said Aliyah Bright, a counselor at the Sullivan Academy basketball camp.

The program continues into August.

“I believe this investment is water and the kids are our seeds,” said Ronald Huggins, the deputy director of youth and administration at the Youth and Recreation Department. “I believe we will see a beautiful return on our investment.”

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