Charlestown teens from the neighborhood’s community centers will take part in an innovative career-building program thanks to a generous donation from a Charlestown tour company.
Last week, Mayor Thomas Menino joined Charlestown teens from the SUPERTeens program at City Hall Plaza to kickoff the start of the new teen pre-employment program for youth ages 13 and 14.
The program, sponsored by a $50,000 donation from Charlestown-based SUPERTOURS with support from BNY Mellon, will offer the Charlestown youth this summer a high-quality service-learning experience. Charlestown kids in the SUPERTeens program will have the opportunity to attend weekly leadership development workshops, gain hands-on experience by working in Charlestown’s Community Centers and participate in scavenger hunt field trips to Boston’s arts and enrichment institutions. Program goals include providing 120 hours of hands-on work experience and/or service experience for each youth. The program will also engage Charlestown teens in high-quality leadership development workshops based on Boston Center for Youth and Families (BCYF) Youth Development Outcomes. These workshops will help the teens develop creative writing skills by allowing youth to share personal learning experiences through established social media outlets and providing an end-of-program stipend to each SUPERTeen.
“I want to thank SUPERTOURS and BNY Mellon for making an investment in a program that provides real work skills to the young people of Boston,” said Menino at last Wednesday’s kickoff. “The skills learned by the SUPERTeens and the friendships they make will be carried for a lifetime and will play a vital role in reinforcing and strengthening our communities for years to come.”
President of SUPERTOURS Dennis Kraez said an investment in the City of Boston’s teens is an important investment in all of our futures.
“We are happy to sponsor and participate in SUPERTeens and we encourage others in the tourism industry and elsewhere to do the same,” said Kraez. “As a Boston based company we take pride in being a good neighbor.”
BNY Mellon has partnered with BCYF for several years to sponsor the F.A.C.T.S Program (Fourteen -Year-Olds Acquiring Confidence, Training & Skills.) With SUPERTOURS generous support, BCYF was able to expand the program and add the weekly scavenger hunt component using SUPERTOUR buses.
“This is an age group that is often aged-out of traditional summer camps yet too young to work but still need to be positively engaged during the summer,” said Boston’s Chief of Human Services and Executive Director of BCYF Daphne Griffin. “Thanks to the support of SUPERTOURS and BNY Mellon, we are able to provide these youth with an enriching work experience while they explore their city, meet new friends, have fun and earn a stipend.”
Following the presentation of a sponsor check to the Mayor, the Charlestown teens were treated to a tour of downtown Boston on SUPERTOURS iconic double-decker buses.