Growing our future workforce
By: Nicole Eaton, Charlotte Communications & Marketing
Every summer, students fill Charlotte businesses, including the City of Charlotte, working as paid interns through the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP). The program is much more than a summer job and plays an important part in Charlotte’s growth.
MYEP was launched 32 years ago and has been around for a while. Initially it started as the Jobs Training Partnership Act and was based on income and recruited students who were in public housing. Today, we’ve seen issues of economic mobility in Charlotte and MYEP is one program that can help students rise above barriers. The program is growing and more businesses and partners are seeing that if we invest in youth, we invest in our future workforce. The program is run by the City of Charlotte, but partners with Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), local businesses and organizations to find career paths and mentor students.
Through the program, students are placed at an organization based on their interests. This year there are 537 students placed in internships all across Charlotte which includes businesses like Map Anything, Charlotte Housing Authority, Atrium and many more. There are also five pre-apprenticeship placements for diesel mechanics which makes them eligible for co-op programs after.
Empowering Youth
Dawn Hill manages the MYEP program and worked as an intern for the City of Charlotte when she was in high school. She says, “The program is about career exploration and matching their skills to their passion. When they are passionate about a career, they are going to stick with it and excel.”
The program visits schools often and catches students as early as their freshman year. It encourages job shadowing and career exploration before they apply for the program. They even help train school resource officers to become mentors to students.
The program is competitive and requires students to show an interest in developing their skills. Most students are between 16–18 years old. To get into the program, they have to write a 500-word essay, submit letters of recommendation and complete a face-to-face interview.
The internships are just a start. Students can get their feet wet, learn soft skills and business etiquette. This part shows them what a real workplace environment is like and allows them to try out a career. It’s also an opportunity to meet professionals who could open a door for them.
Monica Youssif is a MYEP intern in Housing & Neighborhood Services and attends Ardrey Kell High School. She’s only been working in the city one week, but has already learned a lot.
“This internship is such an incredible opportunity for students to further their professionalism, experience, and knowledge. I am so grateful to have been able to take advantage of what the MYEP has to offer. I have gained a new appreciation for how endlessly and tirelessly everyone works to ensure Charlotte continues to thrive. Working with the Youth Programs division of the Housing and Neighborhood Services has been such a privilege as I work with such incredibly hardworking and driven people who have taught me, and continue to teach me, so much. This is an education and an experience beyond the classroom and beyond your typical summer job.” — Monica Youssif, Ardrey Kell High School MYEP student
How does the city benefit?
The City of Charlotte has 98 interns working this summer across various departments and in various fields. The special part about the city is they also learn how government works. They attend various orientation programs that all employees do like City View, Gov101 and Gov University. They get a first-hand look on what goes on behind the scenes.
Justin Lee works in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, where they have 40 MYEP interns.
“The MYEP is an incredible engagement opportunity for the city. The experiences that these kids will have over the summer will be shared with their friends and family, many of whom may not understand all that the city does or why we do it. This is an opportunity for us to be ambassadors for Charlotte and show these interns the passion we have for this city and all the hard work that goes into ensuring it’s a winning city for all.” — Justin Lee, CMPD
They also learn how to be an engaged citizen. Lee says, “This internship gives these kids an early opportunity to network and learn who they are as individuals and what they want do as a working member of society. Many of them will go on to work for the city and be new ambassadors for this wonderful community. ”
Moving the community forward
The city can’t run this program without the support of other organizations and businesses. The MYEP is an integral part in growing our workforce and economy. It’s like planting a garden. We are growing a future workforce so we as a city can move forward.That’s why so many community partners are a part of the program.
“When we lift our youth, we lift everyone in our city.” — Dawn Hill, Youth Program Coordinator, City of Charlotte.
Watch how the program benefits both students and Atrium in the video below:
Additional Information:
Learn more at charlottenc.gov/youth.
