At Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Taneka DeGrace is a one-woman tour de force of college advocacy. Officially, her job is to connect students to RoxMAPP, a dual enrollment program with local colleges. But her enthusiasm overflows the job
Last spring Mykelsy Charles, 23, was considering leaving her job as a university dining hall supervisor to enter the BEST hospitality pre-apprenticeship program. Her friends warned her that housekeeping was physically demanding work. “When everyone said, ‘Don’t do it, don’t
When nonprofit YouthBuild Boston sought a more accessible teaching space for its building trades training, Roxbury Community College (RCC) saw an opportunity to expand its offerings to the community. Last year, the two organizations launched their collaborative solution: the Boston Trades Assessment Center.
YOU Boston is known for providing at-risk young people with work opportunities, from summer jobs to training to transitional employment. But work is just the beginning. YOU staff are continually encouraging young people to think about the next step in their
A study released today by the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) finds that the Financial Check-Up (FCU) – a light-touch, one-on-one credit review – can make a dramatic impact on residents’ financial well-being in a short amount of time. A randomized, controlled trial of hundreds
The newest findings from a multi-year study of Boston’s summer youth employment program show a significant byproduct: a decrease in crime. Among the 600+ young people studied who participated in the 6-week jobs program, arraignments for: violent crime dropped by 35%
Santander Bank and the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) have announced that the Boston-based bank will provide a $200,000 grant in support of OFE’s financial education and economic development work for city residents. The OFE will use the grant
Next City disseminates nonprofit journalism on municipal best practices in social, economic, and environmental change. On June 28, the organization highlighted two Boston programs – the Greater Boston American Apprenticeship Initiative and Mayor Martin Walsh’s youth re-entry initiative, Operation Exit – as successful examples of
Operation Exit changed Devin Edwards’ life. The program, which helps court-involved young people enter sustainable careers, gave Devin the crucial second chance he needed. His mentors gave him unwavering encouragement. Devin did the rest. Looking back now, he is stunned by the distance
City leaders from across workforce development, business, education, and government gathered at District Hall in Boston’s Seaport District yesterday to discuss strategies for solving a serious talent shortage in Boston’s local tech industry. But it was hardly talk without teeth. At the