Comcast Foundation Grant To Strengthen Job Readiness Skills For BPS Students Employed At Save The Harbor

The Boston high school students employed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay next summer will have the opportunity to develop new ways to strengthen their leadership and job readiness skills thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation.

The 20-25 Boston Public School students, who help lead Save the Harbor’s Youth Environmental Education Programs, develop these skills by participating in a suite of career-focused, technology training projects while employed during the summer months. Next year, with support from the Comcast Foundation grant, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay will incorporate skills training across all areas of their Youth Programs aimed at increasing the teens’ confidence in dealing with the evolving tech industry, and introducing them to potential pathways to careers on Boston Harbor that require increasing levels of technological literacy.

These new technology and leadership training sessions begin during a week-long orientation and are further developed at eight additional sessions throughout the summer. In addition to strengthening the leadership, communications, and technology skills of the teens, these trainings will also empower them with skills necessary to present the organization’s mission and programs to the public, with an objective to develop the youth to be competitive candidates in today’s workforce.

“Save the Harbor is proud to continue and deepen our partnership with Comcast and the Comcast Foundation,” said Chris Mancini, Vice President of Operations & Programs. “Their support over the years has helped provide laptops to our youth, iPads that enhance the efficiency and professionalism of our programs, and Internet Essentials to people from around the region.”

This grant represents great new potential for Save the Harbor’s programs and participants, who will have the opportunity to build and pilot underwater drones at Youth Environmental Education sites like Carson Beach in South Boston, Piers Park in East Boston, and public events from Nahant to Nantasket.

Each year Save the Harbor/Save the Bay sees increased confidence in their youth staff as they learn to communicate and educate others and that newly developed skill sets translate into success in their chosen fields. The leadership, communications, technology, and workforce readiness skills learned in this program play an important role developing the teen’s skills and experiences needed to make them competitive prospects in a changing marketplace.