Project Life
Project Life is a youth employment program with the mission of preparing young people for the world of work through classroom instruction during the winter and spring months and internships during the summer months. The winter/spring program consists of a 10-week program for individuals between the ages of 14 through 18. During this time period participants will have the opportunity to attend classes at Montclair State University to help improve their chances in our competitive economy. The classes are usually once a week for 2 hours on a Friday night. They consist of business education, entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, résumé writing, dressing for success, business plans, etc. Classroom instruction is intended to enhance the participant’s skills and knowledge so they can be among the competitive and professional group within our economy. At the conclusion of the program students will be more knowledgeable regarding the job market and work force; have a better understanding of organizational team work; and be better prepared to present themselves to prospective employers. They will also have the ability to write a professional résumé and complete work applications.
Graduation from the winter/spring program provides the participants with the opportunity to interview for employment from a database of summer jobs solicited by the Project Life team. Employment is not guaranteed, just the opportunity to use the skills learned during the classroom sessions to make the needed impression on the employer. If selected for employment, they will be paid minimum wage or higher, depending on the employer. Also, the opportunity to have the job extend beyond the summer also depends on the employer and the quality of work performed by the participant.
Most of the younger participants, the 14 and 15 year olds, will be able to participate in the Project Life Entrepreneurial program. This consists of running a business during the summer. Past participants ran the concession stand during Project Oasis, which is a 6-week summer program. For more details on Project Oasis, click on the program tab. Under this program the participants learn to start the business; shop and market the product; profit and mark-up; and how to dismantle the business. After all expenses are paid, the team shares in the profit. For a Project Life brochure, click here. To register for 2017 Project Life, click here.
We are always looking for businesses to partner with us by providing jobs during the summer. If anyone is interested click here or call 973-744-9094 for more information.
On the Road to Success
Chelsea Wilkins is the kind of girl to make a mom proud. That goes for those who worked with her over the years at MNDC, too. She’s currently deciding which college to attend next fall, but she wasn’t always on that path.
In elementary school, Chelsea struggled. She would often get pulled out of her regular classes for special instruction. This continued into middle school, only by then she was acting out, responding with anger to her teachers and refusing to finish her work. It wasn’t until one particular teacher got involved with Chelsea’s situation that things started to shift. He saw her potential and as she puts it, was “always on her case”. He uncovered the family issues that were fueling her anger and encouraged her to let go of it. Perhaps it was his persistence or his sharing of his own situation but somehow he got through. Chelsea made an about face and by 8th grade was achieving honor roll and continuing the trend through high school.
During that time, though, she continued to need support and, thankfully, was introduced to MNDC. She was simply handing in paperwork for her younger brothers to attend MNDC’s basketball camp when she met Ms. Spears, MNDC Director of Program Services & Case Management. Elaine Spears mentioned MNDC’s Project Life program that provides high school youth with summer jobs. Eager to make some money, Chelsea signed on and starting working as a counselor at a nearby summer camp.
The following year, she worked at MNDC’s basketball camp. Seeing Chelsea’s strong work ethic, Ms. Spears recruited her to work with MNDC on various fundraisers. One moment she’ll never forget is giving out Christmas presents to families in the community and having to make an impromptu speech to them. With knees knocking, Chelsea did it and has continued working on her public speaking, most recently by taking a speech class at school.
Looking back at the impact MNDC has had on her life, Chelsea says the programs and Ms. Spears played a huge role. She took classes to learn life skills covering topics she wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. And being the kind of person that Ms. Spears is, she often checked in with Chelsea to see how she could help. When she needed a quiet place to do homework (with 2 younger brothers, home was often noisy) or a printer to use, Ms. Spears gladly offered to let her settle in at the MNDC office.
Chelsea plans to go into the medical field in some capacity; her ultimate dream is to become a doctor. To position her on that pathway, she took AP Anatomy & Physiology this year and is succeeding. Although college is a big next step, she is ready for the challenge, thanks to MNDC and all those who supported her along the way.