by Dee Dee Vickers –

The Georgetown Project was awarded a $25,000 grant from Seeds of Strength to pay stipends for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), as well as one half of The Nest Empowerment Center Coordinator’s salary. This past summer, SYEP provided first-time employment internships for ten Georgetown ISD high school students. Participating students completed an eight-week paid internship with various employers in our community. On August 5, I visited The Georgetown Project’s NEST Empowerment Center to help celebrate these students’ successes.

Before the celebration began, Leslie Janca, Executive Director of The Georgetown Project, took me on a tour of the NEST. The NEST provides “an afterschool safe haven for Georgetown ISD high school teens.”* It also gives these youth a place where they can interact with others in similar situations. Leslie shared that during the past school year, the Center has helped support 90 teens, with an average of 28-30 students each day. As we visited the different rooms, I was impressed with their hominess and comfort. These spaces had been designed to help the students feel relaxed and among friends. The teens have access to computers to help them with their school work, and tutors are available. Recreational activities are also provided, such as a ping pong table, TV, and board games. There is even a kitchen where teens can learn how to prepare a meal.

Following the tour, I met the GISD students from the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at their celebration. Without exception, these teens exhibited a sense pride and a feeling of self-confidence. “You need to always be on time.” and “You should finish what you start.” were comments made by two teens who had successfully completed their internships. With the help and support of the staff at the Georgetown Project, the ten students had learned how to fill out a job application and interview for the position. They also learned important job skills, such as arriving for work on time, filling out time cards, and communicating with supervisors. The eight-week paid internships were provided at IKEA, MinuteMan Press, The Monument Cafe, The Palace Theatre, Hula Cowgirl Shaved Ice, Williamson County Animal Shelter, Goodwill of Williamson County, The Salon Professional Academy, and The Georgetown Project’s After School Action Program (ASAP) summer camp. Some of these teens have now secured jobs where they completed their internships or have found employment at other companies due to their success in the Summer Youth Employment Program. As I met with the teens, their workplace supervisors, and the staff at The Georgetown Project, I felt proud to be a member of Seeds of Strength, the organization that had helped make these opportunities possible.

* Quote taken from The Georgetown Project website.