News Flash

Aug. 8, 2018 - Hampton City Council Wednesday afternoon recognized more than 80 students – and their employers - who took part in the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program this year. 

Marissa Fowle, 18, a recent graduate of Kecoughtan High School, has spent the summer working part-time at Dog Eared Books, a store on Old Hampton Lane run by Phyliss Henry and her daughter, Victoria Mitchell. “Working at a bookstore is a cool experience if you like books,” said Marissa, who hopes to one day see her own novel on bookshelves. Henry said Marissa learned what it’s like doing a little bit of everything at the store, from pricing the books and stocking shelves to creating the sign that they set up outside the store. “It’s always nice to have young people have a valuable learning experience,” Henry said.

 For Fowles, the experience was more than just a job. She said it gave her someone else to bounce ideas off, valuable work experience, and someone who helped her update her resume.

Synethia White, program manager for the city’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities, said the goal of the jobs program is to expose young people to different employment opportunities and to help them determine the path they want to follow as they get older.

Now in its fifth year, the Summer Youth Employment Program began June 18 and is scheduled to end Aug. 24. White said there were 26 internal (city) work sites and 10 external sites, including Dog Eared Books.  Students agree to work at least 20 hours a week. For more information on the job program, visit https://hampton.gov/2991/Summer-Youth-Employment