n last month’s POV special edition on Business and Finance, Joe Peters, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Regional Employment Board, discussed the importance of summer employment opportunities for our youth and their positive impact. I would like to add to Joe’s article but approach it from the angle of someone who personally benefited from summer youth programs. Growing up in Hartford I remember the positive impact and work ethic that was instilled in me and my brothers as we worked in the summer CO-OP program as adolescents, then the Community Renewal Team summer youth program for teens as we got older. We had the opportunity to work with other youth in teams from all across the city which, in itself, was probably the most valuable take-away from both programs as I learned to develop relationships with individuals that were from the “tougher” areas of town and were more “street-wise” than I was.

       These summer employment opportunities not only put a few dollars in our pockets but they also provided character building, responsibility, work ethic, teamwork projects and the ability to develop and/or refine the building of relationships with others who may not have looked like or acted like us. Also, rules and guidelines were established by these employment programs that we needed to conform to, such as reporting to work on time, using proper language and learning to accept directions. These are foundational skills that are best learned in a real-time working environment at early stages of life.

       In my job I speak with many employers who discuss some of their hiring challenges, even in these economic times, of keeping quality employees because of a lack of work place readiness skills. On more than one occasion, employers have told me, “As long as the applicant has the basic requirements of the job, we can teach the technical skills but we cannot teach work ethics.” Some may say it is up to the schools to teach this and the schools do try, with some being more successful than others; but with limited resources to provide internships, externships and work-based learning, it is an uphill battle. Schools can definitely instill a basic work ethic and create an atmosphere of teamwork based on academic assignments, sports activities, student club activities and other positive events but to think that they can do it alone is unrealistic and what they teach needs to be cultivated and refined.

       Community-Based Organizations and Faith-Based Organizations also recognize the need for a continuum of youth development to be kept in perpetual motion. Community centers and youth initiatives all over MA and CT recognize that whether it be work-based, spiritual or moral, ethics are learned behaviors that all involved in a child’s life can impact and must provide positive reinforcement for. I have always believed that workplace ethics is just one of the results of a systematic approach to the development of an individual’s life skills when there is a balance of education, health, religion, family and creative outlets. For a more comprehensive view, go to page three of any issue of An African American Point of View community newspaper and review the “Table of Contents.” Read and reflect on the articles and the advertisements presented. It’s all right there in front of us; it always has been.

       Please support not only the summer youth employment initiatives but also the many great youth initiatives and schools across your city. The foundation you will build in a youth will last a lifetime.  n