OWD’s Summer Learn and Earn (SLE) Program combatted COVID learning loss with extra class time and a paycheck for Boston students. This year’s program enrolled 80 rising juniors and seniors in college courses at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT). Youths also earned up to $1,800 in stipends for six to eight weeks of online instruction in these subjects: Introduction to Marketing, Introduction to Business, Introduction to Professional Communications, Google IT Support and Medical Terminology.
Offered in a hybrid format, on Fridays, participants met in person to receive college exploration exposures, participate in financial literacy workshops and welcome professionals in military to law enforcement careers, the visual and performing arts, the building trades and other fields. The program also served free lunches during in-person sessions and offered support from paid mentors to every student throughout the experience. On Aug. 19, SLE ended for most students, except those enrolled in the Google IT support class, which continued for another two weeks.
The final gathering included a field trip to the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown followed by lunch and a certificate of completion presentation. Staff and students were all smiles visiting old warships and learning US naval history. Lunch was delicious with all sorts of goodies.
