Y Monthly Monday Mission Update
Creating A World of Opportunity for Young People
As the “Y” in our name signifies, young people are core to the Y’s mission of strengthening and connecting the communities we serve. You might be surprised to learn that we are one of the largest first employers of teens and young adults locally. In fact, 27% of our workforce are individuals under the age of 22, filling various roles throughout the organization, particularly in our Y Family Centers, Before and After School Enrichment, and Camp operations. These are mostly young people in high school, college or trade school who are working at the Y to earn some money while they pursue their long-term aspirations.
Supporting young people has always been at the heart of the Y. For years we have been running a plethora of programs, like Next Generation Scholars, New Horizons II, Youth & Government, Leaders Club (to name a few), all designed to provide students access to the experiences, skills and resources needed to move into adulthood with confidence and purpose.
It’s for this reason (and many more) that over the last few years, we have intentionally taken steps to diversify our points of entry and look at a wide range of opportunities from apprenticeships, internships, and other training and upskilling approaches.
Just one of these channels is the Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI) program, where we are able to offer internships to young people across the region. Recently, we welcomed Kishaunna (KT) Essue and Taniya Payton to the Y team.
Working at Rosemont Elementary/Middle School in West Baltimore, KT is supporting our Community School strategy and spends her busy days helping with parent engagement, technology, and supporting attendance.
“Overall, I’m super grateful to be in an environment like this. My supervisor Patricia Burrell-Smith is legendary at the Y. She is so full of knowledge and gives me a step-by-step breakdown of how to approach something if I’m ever unsure. I appreciate that so much. I also value working with my direct supervisor, Ahmad Collick. He is great and I love knowing that I can come into a place where I have a space to be heard. I have support from start to finish,” KT shared.
Taniya primarily supports the Y’s social-emotional learning (SEL) work across various school locations, helping students gain insights into improving their mental health.
Focused on our Y GEMS program (which stands for Good Vibes. Good Energy. Motivation. Support), Taniya helps students explore mental health through a number of programs such as:
- Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM): A mental health awareness program for high school youth that consists of five consecutive sessions where youth engage in role play situations and discussions around mental health topics.
- Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS): A group that helps teach middle and high school students how to recognize the connection between stressful events and their emotional reactions, and provides tools to cope more effectively.
Taniya shared that “one of my favorite programs is YAM. In these sessions, students work through dilemma cards that guide discussions with questions like, ‘How do you feel?’, ‘What would you do?’ and ‘What happens next?’ These conversations allow students to think critically about real-life situations in a safe and supportive space. I wish I had programs like this growing up.”
Beyond her role in supporting students, Taniya feels the Y is helping her grow personally.
“I’m a shy person. This internship is helping me become more confident. It’s teaching me communication skills,” she explained.
Taniya credits her growth to strong teamwork and leadership provided by her supervisor, Kyndell Overton, and the Coordinator of CBITS, Shelby Cook.
“I value Kyndell’s supportive guidance and honest feedback and Shelby’s meaningful relationships with students through CBITS. And, as a young professional still finding my voice, I’m grateful for this inspiring experience,” she shared.
KT and Taniya have passions that extend far beyond the Y, KT in the field of science and Taniya in supporting individuals within the criminal justice system. There's no doubt that both are destined for big things.
The Y’s commitment to workplace development will continue to grow and evolve in the coming years. Today, we have 11 partnership organizations, and are an approved apprenticeship program location for the Department of Labor in every region we serve. We have 50 participants currently actively engaged in various workplace development programs. Of those who complete the program, 41% of them get hired into a Y job. We work hard for the Y to be a place of infinite possibilities for every young person who walks through our doors. Their energy, dedication and skills are not just welcomed, but essential for shaping the future of our community.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland