John Hancock commits $1M to fund summer jobs in Boston

BOSTON (AP) — John Hancock is awarding over $1 million in grants through its MLK Scholars program to provide 635 Boston teens with summer jobs at 65 non-profit organizations. This year marks the 11th consecutive year of the program.

MLK Scholars is believed to be the largest, most comprehensive, corporate-based summer jobs program of its kind in the nation. John Hancock oversees the program and works in close partnership with The City of Boston, The Boston Globe, Boston University, and Partners HealthCare, with additional support from The Ad Club of Boston. John Hancock also counts on EverFi, Boston Cares, and The Center for Teen Empowerment to help develop and implement its summer programming.

“The John Hancock MLK Scholars program shows that when Boston and its companies work hand in hand, lives can truly change,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “These summer jobs for our Boston students provide so much more than just a paycheck – summer jobs provide independence, financial literacy, valuable work experience, and knowledge that all opportunities are possible.”

Through the annual million-dollar program, Boston high school students spend the summer working at non-profit agencies across the city, gaining valuable real-work skills and engaging on issues that affect their community. Throughout the summer, all of the scholars participate in “Mayor Menino Leadership Forums,” which offer handson leadership development training at Boston University. Each Scholar is also required to complete digital financial literacy training.

Non-profits receive funding for each Scholar position awarded to provide paid summer employment to Boston teens. Sixty-five local non-profits, addressing a myriad of important community issues, were selected to participate in 2018.

“John Hancock mitted to healthier, more equitable communities,” said Thomas Crohan, assistant vice president and counsel, John Hancock Corporate Responsibility & Government Relations. “MLK Scholars empowers young people to improve their overall wellbeing by gaining important career readiness and financial literacy skills, building positive relationships, and supporting good decision-making – for themselves and for their futures.”

“The Dimock Center is incredibly grateful to partner with John Hancock for the MLK Scholars Program, said President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dimock Center, Myechia Minter-Jordan, M.D., MBA. “Over the past seven years, MLK Scholars have contributed significantly to Dimock, working in our health center, Head Start classrooms and administrative offices. We are committed to nurturing the potential of talented young leaders and mentoring them as they consider their future goals, and thrilled that two former MLK Scholars now work in our Child and Family Services division. We are honored to count John Hancock as one of Dimock’s most significant partners, and we look forward to our continued work together through the MLK Scholars Program.”

Non-profit organizations receiving MLK Scholars grants for 2018 are: Artists For Humanity, BCYF Menino Community Center, Bikes Not Bombs, Boch Center Boston, Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Boston Dance Alliance Inc., Boston Debate League, Boston Harbor Now, Boston Landmarks Orchestra Inc., Boston Partners in Education.