for the last six years students in

Newark have relied on a summer jobs

program and the paychecks that come with

it it provides their families with extra

financial support and adds to the work

experience they may not otherwise have

this year though the pandemic forced the

city to adapt the program moving it

entirely online or even santana reports

on the impact of the program for the

kids participating as part of our

ongoing series chasing the dream the

first day getting to know everyone

everyone was excited so the mute button

wasn't used at all 16 year old al Misha

do heart is one of three thousand teens

and college students participating in

Newark's 2020 Summer Youth Employment

Program launched virtually this week

just being inside in the house not

really being able to interact with other

people but being giving this opportunity

virtually is amazing our first workshop

we were observing different stories

about the pandemic from the youth in the

city of north we have two cohorts we

have a college cohort as we've always

had and we also have a cohort that

serves young people between 14 and 24

that they're getting a lot of work force

development and project-based learning

and for our college students some of

them have internships where they are

working with places such as a buret

Leadership Institute and the gem project

and there they're also off platforms

they're doing a lot of data they're

learning about issues around the

pandemic youth program director Marsha

Armstrong says the program offers a

combination of college prep financial

literacy and career development webinars

the program which is funded through

public and private donations is

following a learn and earn model this

year everyone that's logging on that's

doing they're doing a financial Lucy

they're doing their session all of them

are getting a stipend to be a part of

the program as you know usually we go by

minimum wage but because this is a learn

and earn we do have to modify that and

of course we want to serve as many

students as we could and what I will say

about one day I would highlight is

attendance that it's really exciting

because you see that young people

want something to do 21 year old New

Jersey City University college student

Shiki --the Cohen says the program is

helping him strengthen his resume an

advantage that could help him land a job

in a tough job market how does this

program play a huge part in your life

this summer this plays a big major role

because I was still able to do a summer

internship I was still able to get out

the house and at least do something for

a few hours oh and it truly gave me the

opportunity to learn new things within

my major also it gives me the

opportunity to meet other people in the

community so it's not all it's not

always about what you know is about who

you know sometimes Armstrong says the

program has also given the city a way to

connect social services with students

and families who have been severely

impacted by kovin we're able to take

their addresses and share it with our on

our mayor's aide so that those young

people could be getting food delivered

and since the program is aimed at

empowering youth to chase their dreams

students are also given guidance on

overcoming personal struggles like food

insecurity and mental health the program

runs through August 14th for NJTV News

I'm Raven Santana

[Music]