Chamber summer program an invaluable introduction to jobs

MIDDLETOWN » A couple of weeks ago, the Middlesex United Way announced funding for the next fiscal year. One of the outstanding programs we support is the Middlesex Chamber Youth at Work Summer Program. For the past 11 years, the program has provided economically disadvantaged local youth the opportunity to gain essential work experience and set them on a path toward success in school and in life.

The program is primarily for youth between the ages of 14 and 21 and who are from Middletown. Youth at Work participants come from local school districts, such as Middletown High School, Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Vinal Technical School, and complete a comprehensive pre-employment application. The application process includes a pre-employment screening which looks at their hobbies, interests, prior experiences, goals and future plans, skill sets and other important factors such as transportation and availability.

The chamber’s role is to recruit companies able to host one or more students, gather the application submissions, and then match up students with the best position, which begin on Monday. Some examples of the variety of host work sites include nonprofits, financial institutions, restaurants and real estate agencies. Participants are paid state minimum wage through the chamber, which solicits funds through sponsors and fundraising efforts. The program will run until Aug. 18, with participants working a maximum of 16 hours per week.

Before beginning employment, the chamber requires all participants to attend two orientation sessions at the office. The orientation sessions are used to educate participants on important workplace requirements. The topics covered include describing how to accurately fill out tax withholding forms and employee time sheets, explaining what an employee code of conduct contract is and the importance of professionalism in the workplace.

As you can see, this program serves as an opportunity to not only provide youth with a positive, meaningful work opportunity but also serves as an effort to develop the workforce of the future.

It is our hope that the skills that are developed and enhanced in this program will establish a solid foundation and work ethic for the participants’ futures. This is a rare opportunity for a young member of our community to make professional connections and increase their confidence when entering the workforce. Our research has shown that those who have better access to employment tend to have a higher likelihood of success in the future. What better way to start on the right path than one of these early employment opportunities?

This program, like many others in our community, recently has faced a reduction in funding and is extremely vulnerable due to significant state budget cuts. We hope the Middlesex legislative delegation takes note of how important programs such as these are to our community and will fight to keep them funded. We encourage that those who have the means to support this great cause can.

To those donors who contribute to Middlesex United Way, thank you. Your support helps keep programs like Youth at Work alive.

FILE PHOTO Ernesto Vargas, with scissors, owner of Finesse Cuts Barbershop on Main Street in Middletown, was a 2008 participant in the chamber’s Middletown summer youth employment program.