The City of Statesboro's "Statesboro Youth Connect" is a 5-week summer program for high school students interested in gaining valuable workplace experience.
The program started on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and culminates on June 30, 2023 in an intimate graduation ceremony.
Over the course of the summer program, students are given to the opportunity to interact with government leaders, public officials, and community role models to gain valuable workplace skills.
The total number of hours SYC students commit per week to the program is 30 hours. Furthermore, students are paid an hourly rate while working and gaining workplace experience.
At the request of the Mayor and the City Council, the city staff developed and hosted its inaugural Statesboro Youth Connect class in June 2021.
The goal of the program is to allow students to learn more about local government and explore possible career paths in local government while also obtaining valuable life skills that can be applied in the present and future.
The content covered in the Statesboro Youth Connect Program includes:
-Fundamentals of City Government
-Life Skills, Soft Skills, and Employability Skills
-Career Exploration
-Civic Engagement
-Leadership
-Diversity
In speaking with Dr. LaSara Mitchell, the City of Statesboro Youth Program Coordinator, she had this statement to give on the success of the program thus far.
She states that:
“This is our third cohort of Statesboro Youth Connect students and we have received amazing feedback from several local organizations regarding the program. Many of those organizations have asked to hire on the youth after the program has finished. Our Youth Connect program remains vital to our local community, as it helps ensure that our youth are positively engaged over the summer (in addition to gaining the workplace skills they need as they move towards adulthood).
*Grice Connect is doing a three-part series on the Statesboro Youth Connect summer program students and graduation.
Here are the first group of students and some of the highlights from their work experience.
DeMarrio Wade
Age: 15 years old
School: Statesboro High School
Interested Future Occupation: Historian
Statesboro Youth Connect Job: City of Statesboro Human Resource Office
“What I have enjoyed most about the Statesboro Youth Connect program is meeting new people. I’ve made a lot of new friends at my job. I chose the Statesboro Youth Connect Main Office for my summer job because I wanted to get better at public speaking and gain experience in the human resource sector. Confidentiality is the most important skill that I’ve learned working this job. I recommend this program to my peers for the valuable work experience it brings, and to get a taste of the real world.”
James Stewart
Age: 15 years old
School: Statesboro High School
Interested Future Occupation: TBD
Statesboro Youth Connect Job: The 7th Mile Farm
“What I have enjoyed most about the Statesboro Youth Connect program is how fun my job at the 7th Mile Farm is. I have met many new people through my work, and have made many new friends along the way. I love my job at the 7th Mile Farm because I enjoy helping others. Furthermore, communication is the most important skill that I’ve learned working this job. I recommend this program to my peers because it is a great work experience for the real world.”
Laylah Scarboro
Age: 16 years old
School: Statesboro High School
Interested Future Occupation: Computer Science
Statesboro Youth Connect Job: Bulloch County Public Defender Office
“What I have enjoyed most about the Statesboro Youth Connect program is the hands-on experience of dipping my toes into an actual workplace. I love having responsibility over different tasks at the office. Some of the highlights for my work experience have been attending court to see the process play out. This is my second year with the Statesboro Youth Connect program, and my second year returning to the Public Defender’s Office for my summer work. Perseverance is the most important skill that I’ve learned while working this job. I would recommend this program to my peers because it gives a great work experience and allow us to learn new skills along the way.”
Treyvon Harris
Age: 16 years old
School: Statesboro High School
Interested Future Occupation: TBD
Statesboro Youth Connect Job: Heavenly Pleasures Barber Shop
“What I have enjoyed most about the Statesboro Youth Connect program is learning the basics of barbering and experiencing a new work environment. I love working in the barbershop and I have learned a lot from Mr. Lamonte. Workplace cleanliness and sanitization have the most important skills that I have learned working here. I recommend this program to my peers because they can gain a real-world work experience in a field they are interested in.”
For more information on the Statesboro Youth Connect program, visit https://www.statesboroga.gov/youthconnect, or contact Dr. LaSara Mitchell at lasara.mitchell@statesboroga.gov.