Press Release  AG Healey Awards $300,000 in Grants to Organizations Across the State for Healthy Summer Youth Jobs

Boston —  To provide at-risk young people with opportunities for employment focused on wellness, disease prevention and public health, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that her office is awarding $300,000 in grants to 53 organizations to fund 250 healthy youth summer jobs across Massachusetts.

“Our healthy youth summer job program is focused not only on keeping young people safe and off the streets during the summer but offering them a chance to challenge themselves and learn about healthy living,” said AG Healey. “By targeting the funds for jobs that advance physical wellness, we are aiming to tackle chronic obesity and disease prevention in at-risk communities.”

The Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program is funded with $300,000 recovered by settlements the AG’s Office has reached. Beyond increasing youth employment in low socio-economic communities, the funding will allow teens to hold jobs that include teaching classes on nutrition, fitness, hiking, sailing rowing and other physical activities.

According to the US Department of Labor, the national teen employment rate fell from 45 percent to 30 percent between 2010 and 2014. Research has also shown that health and wellness factors are strongly tied to income levels and that children from lower-income homes are more likely to be overweight and in poorer health than those from higher-income homes.

Examples of jobs that will receive funding from the AG’s Office are:

• Working as a teacher or coach for rowing, sailing, hiking, swimming, or weight lifting classes for low-income youth;
• Teaching low-income youth about nutrition and how to maintain a healthy diet;
• Working as a counselor who mentors low-income youth in healthy eating and competitive athletics;
• Teaching children about different styles of dance including Zumba;
• Assisting in teaching healthy cooking classes for seniors in their community;
• Running workshops on violence prevention and mental health for low-income youth; and
• Working as an instructor for a strength training and conditioning program for low income youth that promotes healthy living and lifelong fitness.

The 53 organizations receiving funding include nonprofits, cities and towns and public offices. The AG’s Healthy Youth Summer Jobs Program will fund youth employment at the organizations from July 5 through Aug. 26.

A list of the organizations receiving funding through the AG’s Healthy Youth Summer Jobs Program includes:

Berkshire County

Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington

Bristol County

City of New Bedford Parks and Recreation Department

Community Boating Center, Inc in New Bedford

YWCA of Southeastern MA in New Bedford

Essex County

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem

Centro De Apoyo Familiar in Lawrence

Greater Lawrence Community Boating

Groundwork Lawrence

Merrimack Valley YMCA in Lawrence

Russian Community Association of MA in Lynn

YMCA of the North Shore / Cape Ann YMCA

Lawrence Boys and Girls Club

Franklin County

Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions in Greenfield, Northampton and Orange

Hampden County

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke

Springfield Department of Parks and Recreation

Hampshire County

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District in Amherst

Middlesex County

Waltham Boys and Girls Club

Brazilian American Center in Framingham

City of Everett

City of Malden

UTEC in Lowell

Norfolk County

Randolph Board of Health

Plymouth County

Brockton Boys and Girls Club

Middleborough Office of Economic and Community Development

Old Colony YMCA in Brockton

Plymouth County 4-H Youth Development

Suffolk County

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

MetroLacross in Jamaica Plain

Action for Boston Community Development

Anthony D. Perkins Community Center Council in Dorchester

Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester

Center for Teen Empowerment in Boston / Somerville

Chelsea Collaborative

City of Revere / Revere on the Move

Doc Wayne Youth Services in Boston

Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp.

Foundation for Boston Centers for Youth and Families

IBA – Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion in Boston

Immigrant Family Services – Institute USA in Boston

InnerCity Weightlifting in Boston

Madison Park Development Corporation in Boston

Maverick Landing Community Services in Boston

Mothers for Justice and Equality in Boston

No Books No Ball Basketball Program in Boston

Project R.I.G.H.T in Dorchester

St. Stephen’s Youth Program in Boston

Whittier Street Health Center in Boston

Zumix in Boston

Worcester County

L.U.K. Crisis Center in Fitchburg

Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester

Girls Incorporated of Worcester

Muslim Community Link in Worcester

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