LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Lima is celebrating another successful year of the GenNext Youth Employment Program, now in its third year.
Seven local high school and college-aged students participated in the summer internship program, which gives young people hands-on work experience in fields of interest. This year’s interns worked in the city’s communications and parks departments, as well as with the police and fire departments. Others gained experience at Mercy Health–St. Rita’s, ArtSpace Lima and Family Promise.
Kenton High School junior Makayla Brown spent her summer working at Family Promise, an experience that aligns with her goal of becoming a social worker.
“It has been a great pleasure to be working at Family Promise. It has been just an amazing experience all around working with the kids and the families and getting to make an impact on their life,” said Brown.
Hellen Douglas, executive director of Family Promise, said Brown quickly became a valuable team member.
“We appreciated having her there so much. She came in. She's young. She's 17. She come in with fresh energy. She came in and she everything we asked her to do. She jumped right in. She was great with the kids, but she was great wherever we put her in the office, if we put her back as a family, support, advocate, whatever we had asked her to do, she just jumped right in, and we just enjoyed having her there,” said Douglas.
Since 2023, 27 students have participated in Lima’s GenNext Youth Employment Program.
Since 2023, 27 students have participated in Lima’s GenNext Youth Employment Program.
