Smoke Signals 9
Tribe's Summer Youth Employment Program Continues Its Success
Young people get real life, on-the-job experience and mentoring.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
By Jack Ham
For five years, the Summer Youth
Program has provided Tribal youth
with work opportunities in Tribal de
partments including, Housing Author
ity, Members Benefits, Human Re
sources at Spirit Mountain Casino,
HeadStartPreschool, Social Services,
Community Fund, Facilities
(Grounds), Library, Information Sys
tems, Facilities (Housekeeping), Youth
Education, preschool kitchen and
Smoke Signals.
The Summer Youth Program pro
vides work for kids 14-17. It first
opened in the late '90s. The program
served 48 young people this year.
Working with the Tribes gives young
people the opportunity to get to know
what it is like to wake up and go to
work Monday through Friday, orga
nize their hours and receive a pay
check. "It's a good opportunity for students
to gain work place or employment
skills and they can learn about differ
ent jobs," said Education Division Man
ager Marion Mercier. Among the
skills students learned, Mercier named
"learning about how important atten
dance is, demonstrating workplace be
haviors and time management.
Learning about different jobs is impor
tant because they learn (what they
like) to do and don't like to do. They
go through the interview process and
it gives them a chance to earn money.
When you work for something it has
more value."
"It gives the kids the opportunity to
make a little money during summer," -
said General Manager Cliff Adams. "(It)
provides training and discipline for the
kids, work experience for the kids. It's
important the kids are in a construc
tive activity."
"(The purpose is) to provide work ex
perience opportunities for Tribal youth
ages 14-17," said Youth Education Pro
gram Coordinator Marie Heimburg. "It
gives youth a good work opportunity
(and) enhances their work ethic. We
anticipate (staying) with the program
as long as Tribal Council continues to
fund it. The past two summers, the
program has worked well because we
have had increased department and
Youth Education (participation)."
"It (also) gives them past work ex
perience for future employment," said
Youth Education Tutor Chris Bailey.
"Our goal is to continue developing
the program so it can provide a high
quality work experience for all Tribal
youth."
On July 7, 1 was first introduced to
work in the Public Information office
where Smoke Signals is created. I can
really feel now what it is like to be a
real business man with my own desk,
computer, phone with extension num
ber, email and my very own reporter's
notepad.
My normal day on the job consisted
of typing articles, learning how the news
paper is laid out, delivering the newspa
per, interviewing people, writing the sto
ries and taking pictures for the stories.
Working with Smoke Signals gave
me the chance to know my Tribe bet
ter. Pulling off money this summer
has just been a bonus because the real
heart of this job is working with tal
ented people like Brent Merrill, Marty
George, Toby McClary, Ron Karten,
Justin Phillips and Peta Tinda who are
like a family to me. I hope to return to
this spot again because the Smoke Sig
nals' office has been a home to me.
Other Summer Interns also had
comments on their experiences:
"So us kids can have an experience
for a job later in our lives," said Youth
Education Intern Kelsey Lord.
"I like it. It is really fun," said Spirit
Mountain Community Fund Intern
Katherine Warren. "I think it is im
portant because it gives kids the chance
to see what the work environment is."
"I feel it's fun and it's important be
cause you get a lot of skills for when
we graduate and get our real jobs," said
Youth Education Intern Valeria
Atanacio.
"It gives us kids a chance to learn
about having a job," said K-5 Program
worker Megan Zimbrick.
Looking Good Production Assistant Marty George looks over Smoke Signal's
Student Intern Young Jack Ham's shoulder during the Summer Youth Program's
end-of-the-year luncheon. Summer youth were recognized for their summer Is work
at the Tribal offices. The Summer Youth Program gave 48 Tribal youth the chance to
work and experience a hands-on, on-the-job training. Young Jack spent weeks at a
time with the each staff member at the Public Information Office.
2003-2004 Preschool Graduation
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Smile Tribal member Tracy Howerton takes a picture of son, Justin, (far left in red) Gift Lauren Lucio, (center) age 5, tries out one of the necklaces
at this year's preschool graduation
given to the graduates.
. . . m. 1 Krrrrili Hi Tiw ii niMi muni I i n - ' ' '
Photos by Peta Tinda
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1:
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Ready For The Next Level Graduates Madison Lenojerry Clifford, Nicholas Larsen.Micah Caring Language Specialist Jackie Whisler hugs
Rogers, (facing away) and Tommy Dawson wait to receive their degrees from the preschool staff. Alexis Cortez.