On behalf of Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston Department of Youth Engagement & Employment (DYEE), we thank you for your interest in becoming a partner organization for the 2020 SuccessLink Summer Employment Program. The SuccessLink Youth Employment Program is funded mainly by the City of Boston, with a portion of youth positions funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts YouthWorks grant, and is designed not only to recruit and hire youth, but also to ensure that their employment experience is engaging, meaningful, and a building block for their professional development and personal success. DYEE partners with nearly 200 community based organizations across the City of Boston to provide thousands of youth with employment opportunities throughout the summer and school year.
The City of Boston awards nearly 7 million dollars during the summer months to SuccessLink partners located in neighborhoods across the city to give youth early exposure to various career paths. Partnerships within the SuccessLink Program are comprised of two very distinct components:
- City of Boston Agencies: These are unique employment opportunities within City government and other quasi-city municipalities. City agency jobs should provide youth with an inside perspective of what it is to be a public servant, as well as an in depth outlook of the professional development, career pathways, and other necessary preparation for future careers in city government.
- Nonprofit Organizations: These are mission driven employment opportunities within organizations that are rooted in positive social impact that benefit communities and neighborhoods. Nonprofit jobs should provide a youth with an inside perspective of what it looks like to fuel purpose driven work with passion and vocation to influence change.
SuccessLink employment opportunities are intended to provide youth with tangible work experience that should help inform future educational and career decisions. DYEE's selection process aims to identify CBO's that provide evident professional skill development that equip youth to successfully engage in the workforce.
YouthWorks
Organizations that are applying for SuccessLink are also applying to be considered as potential YouthWorks partners. YouthWorks, branded as "BOSS UP," is a subsidized youth employment program administered by the Massachusetts Commonwealth Corporation, designed to provide low-income teens and young adults, 14-21 years of age, with their first employment experiences, work-readiness training, and the skills to find and keep an unsubsidized job.
YouthWorks funding is used to ensure that disadvantaged youth, vulnerable youth, and youth with identified proven risk barriers have access to employment opportunities.
SuccessLink Overview
- Only community-based organizations with current non-profit status may apply to be work sites for the SuccessLink Employment Program.
- The summer employment program begins on Monday, July 6, 2020 and ends on Friday, August 14, 2020.
- Youth employees are allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours per week.
- The partnership application deadline has extended to Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at 5 PM.
- Please make sure to complete the partnership application with as much detail as possible and answer all questions provided. Any applications received after that time will be placed on a waiting list.
Evaluation of Partnership Applications
Applications submitted for SuccessLink partnership consideration will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Complete and detailed application - with much emphasis on thorough and engaging youth job descriptions.
- Performance in previous employment programs (if applicable)
- Commitment to youth development and providing a meaningful work experience
- Organization capacity and ability to use and follow SuccessLink systems and processes.