Memorial CDC’s Youth Employment Program Helps Prepare Youth for the Future

By Devon Watkins

In Evansville, many entry-level jobs require applicants to have previous work experience. For many young people, that creates a difficult challenge—how do you gain experience if no one will hire you? Memorial Community Development Corporation’s Youth Employment Program (YEP) helps address that problem by giving young people valuable work experience while helping strengthen the community.

Founded in 1994, Memorial Community Development Corporation (Memorial CDC) works to strengthen underserved communities through engagement, education, and innovation. Its mission is to empower individuals and families by providing opportunities that improve quality of life through youth development, housing, economic opportunity, and community partnerships.

In 2004, Memorial CDC launched the Youth Employment Program (YEP) in partnership with the City of Evansville. The program employs youth ages 14 to 24 for eight to 10 weeks during the summer and after-school during the fall and spring. Until 2009, YEP was Memorial CDC’s only youth employment initiative. The Urban Garden and Market Program was later created to teach participants how to plant, grow, harvest, and sell fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables to the community.

Throughout the summer, YEP participants help clean neighborhood streets by removing litter and weeds. Students in the Urban Garden and Market Program harvest fruits and vegetables, package them, and sell them to community members. While those activities make up much of the work week, Fridays are dedicated to professional development, where students learn valuable life skills such as professional dress, workplace expectations, and financial literacy.

To better understand the program, I interviewed Julius, a first-year YEP participant who will be entering ninth grade at Reitz High School this fall.

Julius said he joined the program to stay busy during the summer while earning money. He also said his fellow participants were welcoming, making it easy to build friendships. One challenge he faced was being nervous about meeting new people. To overcome that fear, he decided to become more outgoing and put himself in situations where he could make new friends.

I also interviewed Reginae, a participant in the Urban Garden and Market Program. Reginae, a junior at North High School, has been part of the program for three years.

She said working in the garden has helped her become more organized and independent. Reginae believes hard work and dedication are the keys to succeeding in the program. She also shared one of the challenges she experienced. When crops were not properly cared for, they died and had to be removed and replanted. Through that experience, she learned the importance of responsibility and consistency.

At the end of our interview, Reginae encouraged future participants to come into the program ready to work hard and take advantage of every opportunity to learn.

What makes Memorial CDC’s Youth Employment Program unique is not just the work experience it provides, but the life skills it teaches and the positive impact it has on both young people and the community.

For more information about Memorial CDC’s Youth Employment Program, visit memorialcdc.org, call 812-423-2500, or visit 645 Connie Robinson Way, Evansville, IN 47713.

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SIDEBAR

Q&A: Memorial CDC Leaders Share Their Vision for YEP

Wendy Chinn

Youth Program Director

What makes the Youth Employment Program unique?

A: “The Youth Employment Program is an eight-week youth development and employment initiative. It’s more than a traditional summer job because it provides young people with real work experience while teaching essential life and professional skills.”

What skills do participants learn?

A: “Students earn an income while learning financial literacy, career and academic readiness, personal growth, and social-emotional skills.”

What challenges are young people facing today?

A: “Many young people want to work but don’t know where to begin. Others want to succeed in school but struggle to connect with teachers and the education system when behavior becomes the primary focus.”

How do you measure success?

A: “We measure success through student retention, the skills participants learn, and the goals they achieve.”

What moment made you most proud this summer?

A: “Our Tennessee college tour allowed students to see people who look like them serving in leadership roles and careers they may not have previously imagined.”

What do you hope students remember most?

A: “I hope they remember the hands-on skills they learned and realize they can become whoever they want to be through hard work and dedication.”

How can families get involved?

A: “This year we successfully launched mandatory family workshops that help parents support their children’s goals, mentor them where they are, and connect with community resources.”

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Serita Cabell

Executive Director

Why was the Youth Employment Program created?

A: “The program was created to provide youth and families with employment opportunities while equipping participants with work and life skills they can use throughout their lives.”

What community need does the program address?

A: “Many entry-level jobs require previous work experience. YEP helps young people gain that experience while preparing them for future careers.”

Has the program received any recognition?

A: “The Youth Employment Program has been recognized through Leadership Evansville.”

Who are some notable alumni?

A: Jordan Barksdale, Allison Young, Lee Young, and Courtney Johnson.