How I Spent My Summer Vacation

For hundreds of restless Boston teenagers, the lazy days of summer can lead to trouble. As temperatures rise, so do incidents of violence, vandalism, and crime, particularly in urban areas. Studies indicate that young people with summer jobs are less likely to become involved in gangs or street crime, but an unstable economy and shrinking job market make the prospects of finding employment precarious at best for Boston teens.

A recent initiative launched by two of Boston’s largest companies aims to change that. Earlier this year, John Hancock Financial Services Inc. and the Boston Globe Foundation, in conjunction with Mayor Thomas M. Menino, joined forces to launch Boston Summer Scholars, a summer jobs program that provides employment for local teenagers. The companies provided nearly $1 million to support 500 jobs throughout the city, making the program the largest corporate supporter of summer jobs in the city this year.

“The mayor has been very outspoken about needing summer jobs for our city’s youth,” said John DesPrez III, president and CEO of John Hancock. “And, from a business perspective, it’s important for us to have an opportunity to train our future workforce.”

In addition to receiving on-the-job training in corporate and nonprofit environments, Boston Summer Scholar participants attend weekly workshops at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Experts in a variety of fields, including State Treasurer Timothy Cahill and Boston Globe columnist Derrick Z. Jackson, lead the sessions.

The program kicked off on Monday, June 30, when Agganis Arena was awash in a sea of bright yellow T-shirts as Boston Summer Scholars gathered for a press conference. Led by Carol Fulp, vice president of community relations at John Hancock, the event was attended by DesPrez and P. Steven Ainsley, publisher of the Boston Globe, as well as by Menino and BU President Robert A. Brown.

“The summer jobs we have as teenagers teach us about work, other people, and ourselves,” Brown said. “While some jobs excite us and open pathways for future careers, others show us what we really don’t want to do. Both types of experiences are invaluable life lessons.”

Citing statistics that show that young people who have summer jobs also have lower high-school dropout rates, higher rates of pursuing post-secondary education, and lower incidence of teenage pregnancy, Menino praised John Hancock and the Boston Globe for their commitment to the city of Boston and its youth.

“This is the widest single effort we’ve had with businesses in our community,” he said. “The Boston Summer Scholars program is a short-term experience that yields long-term possibilities.”

Garrett Brown, 18, an incoming senior at English High School in Jamaica Plain, says his internship at John Hancock is a blessing. “This is my first corporate job,” he said. “I have to wear a suit every day, but I’m not worried about it. It’s so hard for young people to find jobs right now, and I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”

Not everyone will work at John Hancock, though: the Boston Summer Scholars nonprofit employment program grants $1,500 per student to work at local nonprofit agencies. Alix Ambroise, 15, an incoming sophomore at Charlestown High School, is spending the summer working for Artists for Humanity, a nonprofit that provides professional art experience to inner-city youth. “I’m painting murals and cityscapes,” he said. “I’m really hoping to gain leadership skills because I want to become more mature.”

Vicky Waltz can be reached at vwaltz@bu.edu.