City of Monrovia awarded Creating Community Award of Excellence

The California Park & Recreation Society has awarded the City of Monrovia with the 2021 Creating Community Award of Excellence for the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program. Since its inception in 2007, this eight-week summer internship program is aimed at providing meaningful experiences for the youth while also investing in tomorrow’s workforce.

To prepare the youth for the rigors of a modern business environment, interns are provided with unique, but relevant work experience. Through the City of Monrovia’s partnership with local community organizations, interns receive the benefits of real-world work experience in administrative offices, a science and technology lab, an afterschool club for youth and a performing arts studio.

“It is an honor to be recognized across the State of California for such a premier recreation program for our youth,” said Larry Spicer, Councilmember and liaison to the Community Services Commission.  “We are thankful to our many community partners who make the YES Program successful. Monrovia Unified School District, Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, Oak Crest Institute of Science, the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills and Centre Stage, just to name a few.”

The YES Program is set apart from the typical summer internships because it connects participants with caring mentors to support their transition into adulthood. These important relationships serve as a safety net for teens who may be struggling to find their way or feeling overwhelmed with academic challenges and pressure for college admission. 

In an effort to diminish the achievement gap, the program provides interns with access to relevant training topics that includes computer skills, public speaking, interview skills, resume development, customer service expectations and personal financial responsibility. The exposure to workforce development opportunities, coupled with real-life skills, increases the likelihood of post-secondary education.

The YES Program not only serves just the youth, but the community has seen substantial benefits over the past 13 years. Over 200 interns have graduated from the YES Program with many returning to become recreation leaders with the City of Monrovia, college interns with community organizations or as mentors to others in the program. Overall, the YES Program provides youth with vision for a better personal future and discovery of new pathways for academic and professional success.

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