Leveling Up: Inside our Summer Workplace Readiness Program

Preparing young people for the professional world is about much more than building a resume. It is about fostering confidence, uncovering core strengths, and proving to youth that they belong in every professional room they walk into.

This July, our Level Up Summer Session at Austin17House brought a cohort of youth together for an action-packed week dedicated to connection, workplace expectations, and career exploration. Here is a look back at an extraordinary week.

Foundations: Mindset, Communication, and Life Habits 

We kicked off the week at Austin17House by establishing shared community agreements and diving straight into personal growth. Gail Jones led a powerful session on worthiness, reminding students that personal worth is inherent and serves as the foundation for all professional growth.

Next, David and Alex Ward facilitated a "Communi-confidence" workshop, where students demystified professional communication by practicing speaking in a group, positive body language, and using a microphone. Throughout the week, our team also introduced crucial life management tools, from emotional regulation and box breathing to financial literacy hosted by Needham Bank, career assessments, and time management strategies.

Experiential Learning: Hands-On Business & Corporate Site Visits

Workplace readiness truly comes alive when students step into real-world environments.

Local Enterprise: Jersey Mike’s

On Tuesday, a team of Jersey Mike's interns joined us for a panel on franchise models and career trajectories. The following day, our youth visited Jersey Mike’s in Epping for an immersive job-shadowing experience. Students learned food safety compliance, observed assembly-line efficiency, and got behind the counter to make their own subs. Some were very nervous to try, but everyone supported each other and each student got the hands-on practice.

Corporate Immersion: Timberland HQ 

On Thursday, the cohort traveled to Timberland Headquarters in Stratham, NH. Students toured Timberland's design, research, and development spaces, getting an exclusive look at how global products move from creative concept to reality. A corporate panel of Timberland staff shared candid stories about their early career hurdles, trajectories, and invaluable life advice. Youth practiced public speaking by asking thoughtful questions before sharing lunch with the employees. 

Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead

We closed out the immersion week with a graduation ceremony, celebrating individual growth, awarding completion certificates, and sharing dessert. Seeing our students step up, stretch outside their comfort zones, and articulate their goals was a powerful reminder of what happens when community resources invest in local youth.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible partners who made this week possible:

• Jersey Mike's

• Timberland

• Needham Bank

• Our guest presenters, Gail Jones and David Ward

The skills practiced here were not just for a single week; they are tools our youth will keep for life.