For the first time in over three years, Charlestown High School students in our Career Readiness program were able to partake in a day of hands-on work experience at Groundwork Somerville! Groundwork Somerville’s mission is to build a healthier Somerville community through youth empowerment, urban farming, equitable food access, and community engagement.
Providing Inclusive Career Opportunities
Our Career Readiness program addresses barriers to employment using a three-tiered curriculum based on academic learning, real-world experience, and mentoring. By taking what they learned in the classroom and putting it into practice at Groundwork Somerville, our participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of workplace skills.
During this trip, a group of Charlestown High School students, teachers, PYD’s Career Readiness Program Manager Becca Cronin, and PYD’s Career Readiness Program Coordinator Rachel Rubin learned all about farming. Students had the opportunity to:
- Try mint and chive directly from the garden
- Plant carrot seeds
- Remove weeds from different sections of the garden
- Explore the different flowers on the farm and in the farm’s bee area
- And much more!
Most importantly, the students learned what it was like to work on a farm. They left feeling excited about the new knowledge they gathered, as well as the potential of a future career at a place like Groundwork Somerville. Thank you to Groundwork Somerville for being a valuable partner of our Career Readiness program and supporting the Somerville community!
Supporting Career Aspirations for Youth with Disabilities
Are you a member of an organization that feels passionate about building more inclusive workplaces for youth with disabilities? Fill out our volunteer application to host a real world experience for our participants, like Groundwork Somerville, or to offer an internship to a student through our Career Readiness Program.