YouthWorks Program

From first jobs to leadership development, from skills training to career exploration, YouthWorks provides Massachusetts teens and young adults with a chance to work, learn and thrive. For the past two decades, income-eligible teens and young adults ages 14-21 from 31 cities across Massachusetts have taken part in one of the few state-funded youth employment programs in the country.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, YouthWorksStrong was developed, a program that focuses on building essential skills, increasing career awareness and fostering positive connections to professionals and peers.

Khamaze Ferguson-Gaynor, 17, from Springfield participated in one of several virtual programs offered through YouthWorks. In this virtual environment, she displayed immediate leadership and initiative skills and was chosen to lead a group of five teens in researching and creating a final product, a PowerPoint presentation highlighting various resources for both physical and mental health. At the end of the course, Khamaze and her team presented the project to Commonwealth Corporation staff in a statewide Showcase Celebration.

Khamaze finds joy in taking care of children and babysitting. Dance has been her passion since she was little, and she’s been taking dancing classes for 16 years. With the help of the YouthWorks program, she aims to become a strong, independent woman that knows how to do things on her own.

Khamaze Ferguson-Gaynor

Real People. Real Help. Real Impact.

95 youth were provided with job training, coaching, and employment within the community.

40 youth had new opportunities and experiences through VOC’s neighborhood-specific summer camp and after-school program.

2,655 individuals worked toward greater self-sufficiency for themselves and