The opportunity to work in a professional setting throughout high school is one whose value is underscored again and again. The ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with peers, and have hands-on experience are essential skills that students learn by partaking in the workforce and gaining practical knowledge; this, in turn, fosters their independence and prepares them for their educational and work-related futures, giving them a clearer vision for their aspired career paths.
The annual Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP), which aims to facilitate these work experiences for youth, has opened for applications, inviting Malden residents aged 14 to 25 to apply from March 20 to April 22.
Through partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, participants benefit from hands-on mentorship and career readiness training to build confidence, gain transferable skills, and make valuable professional networks. The program consists of professional work experiences as well as educational classes—referred to as Signal Success classes—to develop soft skills.
The program—which runs for six weeks, from July 7th to August 15th—offers its participants the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including local government offices, community organizations, retail businesses, and corporate partners. While some positions focus on administrative work, customer service, childcare, and technology, others offer experience in trades, healthcare, the arts, outdoor activities/recreation, and photography/videography.
Beyond career development in a diverse range of fields, the program also “encourages civic engagement, empowering youth to contribute positively to their community and develop a strong sense of responsibility and leadership,” Aaron Olapade, director of the program, described, fostering “lasting connections between local businesses, organizations, and the next generation of leaders.”
MSYEP is open to all Malden residents ages 14-25. The application process includes an online application, an interview, and a job readiness assessment, followed by placement at worksites throughout the city that are matched with youth career interests. Applicants who demonstrate “enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to learn, even if they have no prior job experience” are prioritized, according to Olapade.
Though every applicant must be a Malden resident aged 14 to 25, a majority of youth employees must also meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria to be in the program: low income, disability (IEP, 504, medical, etc.), court-involved, DYS, foster care, unhoused or runaway youth, limited English Language Fluency, LGBTQIA+, or the child of a single, working parent.
Last summer, the program received over 870 applications. Of these 650 that were then interviewed, over 320 youth were employed by the program. The number of applicants accepted ultimately varies each year depending on the amount of funding received from state grant awards.
This year, the program anticipates an increase in the total number of applicants, following an upward trend in the number of applicants each year. “That being said, we aim to employ as many youth as possible each year and have had great success onboarding and placing hundreds of youth throughout the years the program has been around,” Olapade described.
Many of the program’s participants are students at Malden High. Senior Chris MacDonald, a MSYEP employee for three years now, was assigned to the Malden Rec worksite at MacDonald Stadium last year, working the All Sports camp that goes from July to August. Through this program, MacDonald noted learning how to become “a better leader,” as well as “how to work with kids and improve my social skills.”
MacDonald’s favorite aspect of the program is that it gives him the opportunity to “give back to the community I grew up in, as well as the programs I grew up participating in. Giving these young kids the best summer experience possible is the main goal, and I feel my co-workers and I do an awesome job of that,” he remarked.
Senior Makenzie Jenkins was assigned to the Malden Youth Summer Recreational Program last summer. She then continued to work there this past winter under the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP), which runs year-round—another opportunity that one can seek out if they decide they want to continue their employment with a job placement site.
At her job, Jenkins performed manual labor jobs around the stadium, including tidying things up inside and outside the building and outdoors, working with kids, doing arts and crafts, and the like. She fondly recalled the community and the people she met through working with MSYEP, saying that the program helped her gain responsibility.
Senior Helen Xie, who joined the program for the first time last year, was placed in the film-building program. As Chief Editor of a videography program, Xie learned video editing, leadership roles, and directing skills. On top of this, she was able to find a new hobby and meet new people. “I like how accessible the MYSEP program is. As someone who was new to the program, I received a lot of assistance from Aaron, and I appreciate his patience with me.”
Xie went on to describe her job placement: “I worked in a very creative environment, so my typical work day would consist of brainstorming or directing a new scene for our video or actual filming.” Her program offered the opportunity to hear from several aspiring videographers and to work with Urban Media Arts to further develop their film.
If interested in learning more about or applying to the program, visit Mayor’s Youth Employment Program | Malden, MA before April 22nd.
