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Jobs program offers glimpse of college life
Giongaly Rucker, seated, who will be a senior at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts this fall, consults with Jerry Linder about working in a UB research lab. Rucker, who hopes to attend UB, says she would like to work in nursing or another aspect of the health care field. Photo: NANCY J. PARISI
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“This isn’t only going to be an experience about working. The university is also going to expose you to what campus life is like.”
Participants in the Buffalo Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program arrived at UB Monday morning to take advantage of the program’s offerings—a summer job, along with an opportunity to get a glimpse of life at a university.
The program, supported by federal, state, city and private funding, will put about 3,500 Buffalonians ages 14 to 24 to work this summer, says Tanya Perrin-Johnson, the city’s community services commissioner. Most people taking part have income at or below the poverty level, Perrin-Johnson says.
About 100 teenagers and young adults will work for six weeks at UB through the mayor’s program, filling jobs ranging from clerical posts to grounds and maintenance positions. On Monday morning, the new employees piled into a room in Allen Hall, South Campus, to complete a short questionnaire about their skills and receive assignments matching their interests and qualifications.
Perrin-Johnson told the group that participants would have the chance to meet professors, explore potential career paths and learn about the university’s academic programs.
“This isn’t only going to be an experience about working,” Perrin-Johnson said. “But the university is also going to expose you to what campus life is like.”
Many of the young people starting jobs at UB on Monday said they live near the South Campus but had never visited the university except to go to clinics at the School of Dental Medicine.
Breanna Holiday, 19, who returned to Buffalo recently after spending a semester at a Georgia university, said her time at UB will help her decide whether to continue her college education.
“I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn about campus life and working in general,” she said. “If I like whatever I do, I might decide to go back (to school).”
Michael Bradley, 19, said he has participated in the mayor’s summer program several times and was excited to learn he had been placed at UB this year. He has applied to the university, hoping to study film here beginning next semester.
Jerry Linder, a UB human resources manager for classification, recruitment, staffing and salary administration, said the university took part in the summer employment program years ago. Officials renewed the partnership with the city this year as part of efforts to reach out to the community, she said.
“We’re hoping that it’s successful this year,” Linder said. “We really depend on (UB) departments to provide opportunities for these students, so we’re hoping it’s a positive experience for both the students and departments so that administrators will next year want to do it again.”
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