Across Massachusetts, young people spent their summer building skills, gaining confidence and exploring their future through YouthWorks, a program administered by Commonwealth Corporation that provides paid work experiences and career readiness training for young people.
Working alongside local employers and community partners, participants gained hands-on experience, strengthened their workplace skills and made meaningful contributions to their communities while preparing for their next steps in education and employment.
As part of that growth, participants took part in training through CommCorp’s Signal Success curriculum, building communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills they could apply on the job and carry into their futures.
Let’s see what our YouthWorks partners and participants have been up to this summer!
Greetings from Springfield
At a youth employment roundtable in Springfield, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $14.4 million to 16 MassHire regional workforce boards to hire 3,786 youth and young adults for summer and year-round jobs through YouthWorks.
Greetings from Berkley
At Fernandes Farm in Berkley, YouthWorks participant Eli is developing his knowledge of the intricacies of planting, growing and caring for crops and flowers while gaining hands-on experience in a working farm environment. His experience also gives him exposure to the many different skills that keep a local business running. From agriculture and horticulture to retail operations and customer service, Eli is continuing to learn, take on new responsibilities, and explore where his interests and strengths may lead him in the future.
Greetings from the Berkshires
In Williamstown, YouthWorks participants learned job skills working at local shops. At Williams Shop, Eli Bills restocks merchandise, kept the store clean and organized, and assisted customers at the cash register. Through this hands-on experience, and what she learned through Signal Success, Eli built her communication skills and confidence in a professional environment. At The Print Shop, Jaxin Lemaire and Jamari LeClair spent their summer learning about the print business and becoming prepared for the workforce. Jamari discovered a new interest in technology and design, learning platforms like Canva, Photoshop, and InDesign. This summer, these participants gained tools and skills they can carry into their next opportunity.
Greetings from Boston
YouthWorks participants made waves at the New England Aquarium in Boston this summer. As Ocean Stewards, young people gained paid, hands-on work experience while educating visitors from around the world, supporting animal care and rescue efforts, and building leadership, communication, and career-readiness skills.
Greetings from Fall River
At MassHire Bristol in Fall River, YouthWorks participants delivered a Project-Based Learning presentation, demonstrating how YouthWorks is building foundational workforce skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, and confidence through hands-on learning experiences, supported in part by the Signal Success curriculum. These experiences help young people gain early exposure to the workplace, strengthen their career readiness, and begin navigating pathways to future employment.
Greetings from Holyoke
In Holyoke, six YouthWorks participants spent their summer immersed in arts, culture, and community while gaining hands-on work experience and exploring career possibilities. At Nueva Esperanza, participants supported the planning of community events, including creating Nueva's merch for Fiestas Patronales. They also joined community members in painting a mural designed by artists Jovan Velez and Mac Geko, contributing to a lasting piece of public art in the city. Career exploring also took them to Holyoke Community College’s Culinary Arts program, where they had the opportunity to tour the space, learn from staff and discover potential pathways in culinary.
Greetings from Lowell
At Greater Lowell Technical High School, young adults gained hands-on work experience through YouthWorks by helping with maintenance projects across campus. From painting and floor maintenance to preparing classrooms and common spaces for the upcoming school year, these young adults are making a meaningful impact while earning practical work experience and gaining new perspectives that will benefit them in school and future careers.
Greetings from Malden
Through Youthworks placements at Malden City Hall and the Malden Teen Center, young people across Malden gained hands-on experience in local government, supporting municipal departments and community initiatives while building skills for future careers.
Greetings from Milford
In Milford, YouthWorks participants spent the summer gaining work experience and discovering where their interests could take them. Paid placements at the Milford Youth Center, Milford Town Library, Sweet Inspirations, We All Hoop, Bob’s Marina, and the Milford Parks Department offered opportunities to build workplace skills and contribute to local businesses and community organizations. Participants also got a closer look at careers in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, hospitality, and emergency services through visits to Rentschler Biopharma, The Rail Trail Flatbread Co., and the Milford Fire Department. Presentations from small business owners and public service workers rounded out their experience with lessons on leadership, wellness, workers’ rights, and financial literacy, preparing them for their next steps at work and in life.
Greetings from Natick
At Natick Community Organic Farm, YouthWorks participant Madeline Mayhew spent her summer doing more than harvesting flowers. She was learning about the natural world around her and gaining hands-on experience connected to her interests. Madeline, who is attending Smith College this fall to study engineering and environmental science and technology, entered her YouthWorks placement wanting to learn more about flowers, growing and harvesting. “I learned how to identify organic seeds, native plants and flowers, and how different irrigation systems work,” Madeline said. This experience gave her a chance to explore her interests before taking the next step in her education.
Greetings from New Bedford
At PACE Community Food Center in New Bedford, YouthWorks participants built valuable skills while making a difference in their community. Participants supported every step of the food distribution process, greeting clients, entering data, keeping the pantry stocked, and helping visitors find what they need. During her experience at PACE, Sarah Bartolomey discovered a talent and passion for human services. With plans to return to a post-secondary program, the hands-on experience she is gaining is helping her feel ready for the next step.
Greetings from Northampton
At Manna Community Kitchen in Northampton, Jael joined the kitchen team as a summer intern, gaining a firsthand look at food service in a community setting. His placement offered an opportunity to explore kitchen work while contributing to Manna’s efforts to feed the community.
Greetings from Revere
In Revere, participants got an inside look at the work that keeps a city running. At City Hall, they learned about local government and the departments, programs, and services that support residents. Placements also included ZUMIX, Artists for Humanity, and the Revere Housing Authority, offering a range of settings to explore career interests and build workplace skills. These opportunities were coordinated by MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and the City of Revere.
Greetings from Worcester
In Worcester, YouthWorks participant Aidan Laperle gained valuable workplace experience and leadership skills as a Youth Worker II with Recreation Worcester, which provides free, year-round after school programming for local students. His experience supporting athletic, artistic, and academic programming for children ages 7 to 12 challenged him to adapt quickly, think on his feet, and develop patience while working in a fast-paced environment. Aidan is preparing to start at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the fall where he will pursue his goal of becoming a certified architect.