Category: Youth Development

March 29, 2024

Impact of Stipends

Nelson packs meals at Suya Joint in Nubian Square Photo Credit: Stefanie Belnavis @thedianneproject
Nelson packs meals at Suya Joint in Nubian Square.  Photo Credit: Stefanie Belnavis @thedianneproject

Apprentice Learning’s programs consistently deepen the link between school and career possibilities using hands-on learning in the workplace. An integral part of the school day, Apprenticeships drive home the connection between career and academic success for eighth grade students. This year, a $200 stipend augments the importance of successfully practicing skills and earning power. 

In our five partner schools, each of our 192 apprentices in our six preparatory sessions and six workplace sessions work towards earning a full stipend for attendance, punctuality and the practice of essential skills such as communication, self-presentation and completion of their first resume. Angel notes, “The money was on my mind.” The stipend amplifies the experience to feel like a real world experience. 

Tasmin 2023 Apprentice, echoes this feeling, “I practiced being work ready by doing my work and always going to school on Thursdays. I  was invested in the training and development programs that focus on building workplace readiness skills. I liked the workshops that cover essential topics like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.”  

What impact have stipends had on Apprenticeships?

  1. After a dip in the Covid years, Fall 2023 attendance has improved to 87% prep sessions and to 88% in workplace-based learning compared to Spring 2023 attendance of 79% and 84% respectively. This contributes to our schools’ attendance improvement strategies. 
  2. Families are excited to learn that their child is eligible for a paid stipend. Often this is an eighth grade student’s first paid experience and an opportunity to introduce savings and budgeting.
  3. Earning one’s first “check” is a memorable moment and fills youth with pride and a sense of competence and self-efficacy.

Funding partners from the Office for Workforce Development, the Office for Youth Engagement and Advancement, Jinny Chalmers Fund, and Someone Else’s Child Foundation have supported this effort, launching the City’s youngest workers into a rich array of summer and school year employment opportunities that will build their career interests throughout high school and beyond.

We are extraordinarily grateful for this deep investment in launching youth into the workforce. In 2023, the City made an unprecedented $18.7M investment in youth jobs, the largest in Boston’s history. Their website notes that funding supported 5,000 youth jobs with local nonprofits and 2,000 City based jobs, making the City of Boston the largest local employer for youth jobs.

October 23, 2023

Event Recap: Future of Work

“Future of Work: Implications of Supreme Court Decisions on the Talent Pipeline”
October 18, 2023

“This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive.”
Alice Waters

On October 18th,  Apprentice Learning hosted our annual Fall Future of Work panel. This year’s topic: Implications of Supreme Court Decisions on the Talent Pipeline, inspired us to be intentional and diligent in our efforts to increase and nurture workplace diversity. Along with our panelists, we formed a collective think tank. We hoped that these conversations resonated and will continue within your spheres of influence.  You can listen to the full panel or download the mp3 to listen on the go.

Moderated by American Student Assistance’s (ASA) Philanthropy Program Manager Jing Cox-Orrell, this panel discussion held on the 36th floor of GMO’s gorgeous office included Mellissa Gallagher (Engagement and Talent Acquisition Lead of GMO), Secretary Lauren Jones (Labor and Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts), Su Joun (Principal, Diversity @ Workplace Consulting Group), Dr. Richard O’Bryant (Director, The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute of Northeastern University) and Madeliene Rodriguez (Partner, Co-chair, Education Industry, Foley Hoag LLP). The panelists shared their insights and suggestions with regard to recruiting, nurturing, and retaining talent in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Affirmative Action. They fielded questions from the moderator and audience about innovative opportunities, messaging and challenges. 

 Some key take-aways:

  • There is no explicit ruling that affects DEI efforts in the workplace.
  • There are multiple career pathways that employers should utilize in order to recruit, retain, and nurture talent. Some of them can begin during elementary and middle school.  
  • There are innovation pathways and early college opportunities available in high schools across the Commonwealth. 
  • We need a combination of businesses, academia, and philanthropy in order to best prepare young people for the future. 
  • We should redirect our energy to the workplaces that care about and are making an effort with DBEI work because there’s a lot that can be done there. 

One salient story related to the necessity of Apprentice Learning was relayed by panelist Su Joun.  When her husband was in eighth grade, his class was visited by a lawyer. Her husband hadn’t thought of college, let alone a career in law. This visit was a launch pad for him…He is now a judge. For Apprentice Learning, this capsulizes and makes real our deep belief that when young people can see an array of options for their future, they are better able to opt in to possibilities that augment the world.

When Secretary Jones informed us that 75% of current Boston Public School students are students of color, Dr. O’Bryant reminded us that young people need adults at every step along their pathway who can and do reaffirm their value. Melissa Gallagher noted that workplaces thrive when we have “different voices, different perspectives”. She stated that there are improved and richer conversations when more voices are in the room.

An audience member asked what advice panelists would give young people as they begin to navigate the world. Panelist Madeleine Rodriguez said, “Find the thing that makes you curious, ask endless questions. Find your genius.”  Dr. O’Bryant said, “Vote and diversify your experiences.”  Su Joun said, “When someone tells you you can be anything, tell them, ‘Show me.'” Another piece of advice from Su that resonated was the necessity of networking beyond your network. This is advice we can all use, I’m sure. 

If you are interested in engaging with Apprentice Learning or hearing more about our opportunities, please reach out to Michele Horn. You can learn more by watching this brief Intro to Apprentice Learning.

We would like to thank Jing Cox-Orrell, Su Joun, Dr. Richard O’Bryant, Melissa Gallagher, Madeleine Rodriguez, and Secretary Lauren Jones. Additionally, we would like to express our deep appreciation to GMO (One of our worksite partners) for generously hosting our panel in their lovely office. 

February 22, 2019

Introducing our Intern, Rebekah Lyon, College for Social Innovation

 

As AL expands to more schools and serves more students, interns play a crucial role in supporting program operations with teaching, administrative tasks and special projects. Apprentice Learning has been generously supported by volunteers from Boston University, Northeastern University and the College for Social Innovation, a semester-long internships for college students. Rebekah has joined us for 30 hours a week and is receiving college credit for her experience.

Hello! I am a second semester sophomore studying Psychology and Hospitality at the University of New Hampshire. This semester, I am excited to be working at Apprentice Learning as a Program Intern. I am living in Boston and interning at AL by way of a program called Semester in the City at the College for Social Innovation (CfSI).

For the next few months, I’ll be completing coursework for CfSI, supplemented by my field experience at Apprentice Learning. This semester, I look forward to exploring the city, making new connections, and getting to know the students.

I am very excited that CfSI matched me with Apprentice Learning because I’m passionate about work that focuses on community development and was hoping to engage with Boston’s youth during my time here. I grew up in Connecticut in a family where civic and community engagement felt as innate as breathing.

Although my time at Apprentice Learning has just begun, I’m already very inspired by the work the organization is doing. Giving Boston’s students the tools they need in order to succeed in the workforce as well as inspiring a sense of purpose is something I find very important. I am thrilled to be contributing to Apprentice Learning’s work in Boston Public Schools this semester! —Rebekah Lyon

College for Social Innovation
Semester in the City is a program that gives college students the opportunity to spend a semester doing hands-on learning through well-supported internships in the social sector.

December 6, 2018

Making Connections: Northeastern University Volunteers

My name is Josie Lee, I’m a second year Chemical Engineering student at Northeastern University, and this semester I’ve been volunteering for Apprentice Learning. I had no idea what Apprentice Learning was until this semester, and from everything I’ve learned I truly think it’s a fantastic organization! The students are getting job exposure and have a wonderful opportunity to understand different work environments, and to discover their own passions. Having responsibility and working for tangible reward is something that encourages a lot of people, and it’s awesome these kids are exposed to that because it can motivate them throughout school to reach for responsibility and ultimately, the reward of a paying job.

I’ve loved volunteering for Apprentice Learning not only because I like the organization, but also because I get to interact with the kids. I’ve always loved volunteering because of the connections that I make. I love getting to talk to the kids and see what their view is about work, responsibility, and school. It’s interesting to hear what they say and to compare it with what I thought when I was their age and what I think now. Hearing their different perspectives is very refreshing, and I hope they take something positive from what I share with them. I hope that if they’re having trouble in any way, maybe I can offer an outsiders look and be a resource for them. Most of all, for me it’s all about making the connection and being as helpful as I can be as they travel to their apprenticeships and reflect on their work experience.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with Apprentice Learning this semester, and I hope to return next semester!

Josie volunteered with Apprentice Learning through Northeastern University’s Husky Volunteer Team (HVT). We are grateful for all her help this semester. To learn more about HVT and other community service visit https://www.northeastern.edu/communityservice/

November 19, 2018

Family Business


Apprentice Learning has been around long enough that we have a few legacies. Like the Delgado family. Miguel did an apprenticeship in 2016 at MicroSoft and now has found solid footing as a designer with Artists for Humanity, blending his love of computers with his love of art. His younger brother, Adrian, is currently apprenticing at Ferris Wheels Bike Shop. He likes it so much and feels so much a part of the crew, tat he has asked if he can show up on Saturdays, too.

The secret sauce? Family engagement. Mary Delgado credits Apprentice Learning with creating new opportunities and vistas for her boys. But she has been an equal partner. During the matching process, we discussed ideas Adrian’s placement and together, determined that the bike shop was a great fit. Mary even dropped by the bike shop at the end of Adrian’s shift to see him at work. Mary and her boys attended our recent Skyline event and spoke about her experience with our program.

Family voices matter. We know our students will go further with all of us lending a hand.

June 11, 2018

We are a 2018 recipient of the Cummings Foundation $100K for 100 nonprofits!

We are thrilled to be a 2018 recipient of the Cummings Foundation $100K for 100 nonprofits.

“The Cummings Foundation grant is the largest competitive grant Apprentice Learning has received. Not only will funding help us to serve more students this year and next, this gift propels our organization into Boston’s nonprofit ecosystem in significantly new ways. We are so very grateful to Bill and Joyce Cummings for their deep generosity and radical philanthropy.”
—Helen Russell, Executive Director

September 20, 2017

Host an Apprentice: 5 Tips for Success

Mentors and owners of Adi’s Bike World, Adi and Val, teaching Joxcel how to use tools.

As schools get underway, Apprentice Learning is preparing 50 students for apprenticeships throughout Boston in a wide variety of businesses. These worksite partners make time each week to create a hands-on learning experience that helps students understand a particular workplace and practice the professional skills Apprentice Learning staff introduce in our six preparatory classes. Our experienced worksite partners have learned the right menu of tasks. Here is what we’ve learned from our partners:

1. Plan age-appropriate tasks including a mix of work including tasks that require higher level thinking skills.
Nearly all simple tasks are things students enjoy doing: assembling packets, doing inventory, updating a database or straightening shelves. These tasks build confidence and independence. Activities such as customer service and managing money are more challenging although apprentices report that they love doing this work. The trick is to vary tasks enough so the apprentice has an opportunity to learn more about the business by talking with you, customers, colleagues or by seeing firsthand exactly how things work.

2. Don’t expect the apprentice to take the lead.
One of the primary benefits of an apprenticeship for students is learning how to engage with adults who are not their teachers or family members. These types of social interactions are extremely rare for most students and initially, can be complex and stressful. Help ease a student’s discomfort and ask lots of how or what questions. What might be a first step you would take to tackle this task? What do you think should happen next? How do you understand the task I presented to you? How do you think our business makes money?

3. Do know that students are enjoying their experience—even if they don’t tell you!
Universally, the apprenticeship is a weekly highlight for students. Apprentices are much more nervous and anxious then they will let on, or may be learning how their body language can be perceived. Don’t worry. It’s normal! Once in a while, an apprenticeship isn’t a good fit. If that is the case, we will be in touch with you immediately to discuss changes, even to place the student in another setting better suited to his/her skills and interests. We all share the same goal that a young person’s first work experience is positive.

4. Use the experts.
When Apprentice Learning staff stops by to check in—we are not just checking on the apprentice. This is an opportunity for you to share questions, concerns or ideas about working with a young person. Use us as a sounding board. We love to talk about young people at work.

5. Have fun. It’s the Wonder Years.
Eighth graders love Apprentice Learning because they want to spend time with you. Young people at this age are in the greatest growth period in the human life cycle. The ages of 13-15 are called the Wonder Years for this reason. Apprentices are curious and eager to exercise independence and demonstrate their competence. They have intellectual capabilities that are often untapped in traditional school settings. Our oldest apprentices can vividly recall their workplace experience from their eighth grade years. The experience you create matters more than you know.

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Make an immediate impact on the lives of Boston’s youth by supporting apprenticeships today. Your generosity empowers young minds and creates opportunities that will resonate for a lifetime.

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