Our 2026 YouthWorks summer program has been off to a great start! This summer we were able to employ 18 youth at 6 different sites. We are fortunate to partner with Milford Youth Center, We All Hoop, Milford Parks Department, Bob’s Marina, Milford Town Library, and Sweet Inspirations! Our youth workers have been very busy at their sites this summer!
Our youth are not only working hard at their job sites, but they also have been a part of multiple different presentations and local field trips. We have been fortunate enough to have different professionals talk about their personal and professional journeys!
Week one the YouthWorkers went on their first field trip to Milford’s Birch Street Fire Station! They got a behind the scenes look at what goes into the daily functions of the department and the calls they respond to! During their visit, they learned how a Civil Service Fire Department operates, watched an impressive demonstration from the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division, toured the Birch Street Fire Station, and explored the specialized gear and equipment firefighters use every day to keep our community safe.
Week two we welcomed Nick and Dave, From Central One Federal Credit Union, who spoke with the students about the importance of financial literacy, covering topics such as budgeting, saving, responsible spending, and planning for the future. They encouraged students to ask questions, leading to an engaging discussion about personal finance and practical money management skills! Congratulations to Jake for being our Youthworker ofthe Week!
Week three was another filed trip to Rentschler Biopharma in Milford! The YouthWorkers were taken throughout the entire facility for a tour where they learned about the developmental and manufacturing processes used to create and supply biopharmaceuticals internationally. They then got to sit down and have lunch with some of the staff at Rentschler to talk about their roles at the company and to ask any questions about future career opportunities! Congratulations Cassidy for being the Youthworker of the Week!
The last week of July started off with a demonstration of the benefits tool MyFriendBen followed by Signal Success and Barbara Kessler, Coordinator for the Community Engagement Division for
the Attorney General’s Office, presenting their “Savvy 18 – What to Know When You Turn 18” presentation. The presentation provided the youth information from workers’ rights, to housing information, to understanding the importance of mental health and social media. Finally the YouthWorkers spent the afternoon at Milford Police Department, where they learned about the career and different equipment they use to complete their job! Congratulations to Miguel for being our Youthworker of the Week!