DC Summer Youth Employment Program Adapts to Virtual Environment

DC was recently described as one of the nation’s top cities for summer jobs, but it wasn’t always like this. Challenges and inequities for youth, particularly low income youth of color, have persisted even in the nation’s capital. The pandemic has worsened the conditions by disrupting work opportunities. The Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment program, or MBSYEP, is a six week paid program where youth are placed in industries including federal government, child care, health care, sports and education, and the performing arts. Approximately 10,000 youth ages 14-24 participate in MSYEP each summer, and over 700 employers participated in 2019. Through subsidized partnerships with employers and a well established reputation, MBSYEP is the largest summer youth employment program per capita in the nation and stands as a national model.

It was founded in 1979 by Mayor Marion Barry, who according to an article in The Nation, “...spent government money to create jobs that fueled the growth of the Black middle class.” It provides opportunities for youth to gain work experience, develop useful skills, gain exposure, and interact with working professionals. This was especially needed during the Reagan years, when economic status for African Americans declined in most places across the US. Mayor Marion Barry and his ideals live on through the program, as shown through Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 2019 executive summary, which states, “MBSYEP continues to be that first step on a pathway to the middle class for Washingtonians.”

MBSYEP serves youth ages 14-24. It is only recently that it began serving DC residents ages 22-24. The level of education for 2019 participants in the program, as reported in the 2019 MBSYEP annual report, are shown below. It is clear that most applicants are in high school, which unsurprisingly also make up most participants.

The selection process for MBSYEP is a lot different than a traditional job or internship. It begins with an application, the submission of eligibility documents, and then an orientation. The selectivity of the program does not rely on factors that keep youth out of other opportunities, such as lack of professional skills or an uncompetitive network. Instead, eligibility is determined based on residency, job availability, and the successful completion of the certification process which includes proving those things. In other words, if you have access to your documentation in a timely fashion and are a DC resident, your spot in the program is highly likely. Since the target is youth and the program is meant to give them professional development skills, the expectation to already practice these skills to gain acceptance to the program is unnecessary. This allows more youth to participate, without barriers such as the lack of previous experience or weak interview skills being the only thing standing in the way of growth.

The program partners with employers who provide work sites and curriculum. The program has what they define as “age appropriate skills placement” which is referred to as “phases.” There are seven phases total and advance with age, centering around soft skills, financial literacy, and exposure to work readiness opportunities. By providing skills to youth through a paid opportunity, the program functions as a first step in the professional development of young people to propel them forward and into more than their careers.

The pandemic has changed the space of internships and job opportunities for youth. According to the Pew Research center, “during the pandemic, teen youth employment has hit its lowest point since the Great Recession.” The economic recovery seems to be starting, and it’s clear that youth is a vital aspect of the recovery. As offices reopen and a new enrollment season in colleges approaches, there must be attention on ensuring youth is incorporated. During the chaos and confusion of the pandemic, MBSYEP shifted its program to virtual and continued employing youth back in 2020 when there was so much more uncertainty. While some job opportunities were limited by the pandemic, MBSYEP extended its program length -to 8 weeks in summer of 2020. Similar to previous summers, host employers had to submit a plan for approval. The plans had to be accessible from mobile devices or desktop users, and there were over 200 hours of workforce and professional development modules that supplemented for sites that didn’t have approved plans. Youth ages 22-24 were allowed to work in hybrid models of both virtual and on site experiences. In 2020, community based organizations made up the majority of the host sites.

There were more applicants for the summer of 2020 than 2019, but fewer youth were certified as eligible. The lower eligibility rate was almost exclusively due to individuals not completing the fully online application and documentation process. Barriers in the certification process, especially as a result of shifting to virtual format, were tracked in the annual report. In addition to adjusting the program delivery, MSYEP also attempted to tackle the technology gap by securing computers and hotspots. Although there were fewer participants, there were additional services offered during the summer of 2020 that made it more constructive and engaging for youth. This includes a virtual college career fair, virtual financial literacy hour, and daily professional training. The adaptations made by MBSYEP and the commitment to being more than an employment program even and especially during a global crisis is what make it unique and sustainable.

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