May 4, 2012 - Thanks to local businesses on Cape Cod, our Youth in Progress Leadership Program is training future business and community leaders.  Celebrating National Volunteer week and at the core of their work staff members organized a week-long Cape Intern Program to engage youth in meaningful work experiences.  With tremendous support from local businesses including; Cape Cod Sportwear, Corner Cycle, National Association of Mental Health and the Youth in Progress Drivers Education office, youth went to work to gain an understanding of the “working world” and they also made a lasting impression on their bosses.  Below are some insights from the businesses who hosted interns and from the interns themselves:

Kerry Arnett, NAMI Cape Cod: "The experience was very positive and enriching.  Molly, our intern, was very sweet, professional, helpful, and possessed great computer and creative skills/abilities.  It is very positive to see our youth taking initiative and responsibility.  Hopefully these experiences help the students develop self-esteem and accountability.  What a great program Youth in Progress offers to help the community."

May Willner, Cape Cod Sportswear (and YIP volunteer): "This was a great experience.  I think the three students we had really enjoyed the experience and benefitted from learning job skills and being able to observe people work."  

Dan Taylor, Cape Cod Sportswear: "I found the program to be a great service for kids to be introduced to the world of working.  My YIP student intern was very respectful and eager to learn.  I would recommend this program to all local businesses."  

Steven Crosby, YIP student intern: "My internship involved screen printing on shirts.  I accomplished probably 4,000 shirts.  I learned how to screen print and do multiple colors on a shirt.  I learned how to change the squeegees and flooders on the screen...I was attracted to this internship because of the screen printing internship I have done before with YIP.  It was really fun...and I loved it!  This experience gave me a better understanding of the workplace because I learned how fast you have to work and how many shirts they were able to do in a matter of two hours.  I learned a lot."

Todd B., YIP student intern: What was your biggest takeaway? "Through my internship at Cape Cod Sportswear, the biggest takeaway was how easy it is to produce massive amounts of shirts.  I also interned at Corner Cycle during the week and my biggest takeaway was that whatever I was doing was making a little kid happy by fixing their bike and that felt really good.”
What is your dream job?  "My dream job is to be a landscape architect after getting my Master's degree in that field.  I would love to design, plan, and build landscape structures for people."

For more information about the Youth in Progress Leadership Program visit www.yipscreenprinting.com and Like them on Facebook.  To get involved today, contact Katie Burner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .