Teens share lifechanging experiences in DC summer youth employment program with DPR

Teens share lifechanging experiences in DC summer youth employment program with DPR

WASHINGTON (7News) — The final days of summer are inching forward and Friday marked the last day for the young staff that's working with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. It’s known as one of D.C.’s most monumental programs.

Over 12,000 students are in the summer program overall. 7News was there as the high school students clocked out for the last time at the Department of Parks and Recreation's (DPR) end-of-summer showcase.

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15-year-old Dior Clemons is one of the nearly 1,000 students who worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Clemons said her role was with Destination D.C., and she explored parts of the city and museums she’s never experienced while growing up in D.C. Clemons said she walked into her district summer job knowing she’d make friends and left with so much more.

“For me to not give up,” Clemons said. “You know, at first, I did not like the job because I didn't know where I was getting myself into. Now, I’m actually thankful that I kept my job.”

Jordan Williams is a proud southeast graduate of Ballou High School. He said the opportunities with the communications program at DPR laid the foundation for his future. He's headed to Hampton University on a full-ride scholarship through Magic Johnson to study mass communications and broadcast journalism.

“It prepared me for that moment as a student journalist; it gave me the opportunity to build up the skills, to be able to approach him and be able to ask him a question and in an interview,” said Williams. “I don't think that like, I don't think that that can be I don't think that I could be altered at like that experience.”

Teens at the event said that what made a difference for them was that the program showed them what their future could look like if they stayed involved and on the right path.

They said they’re looking forward to getting back to work next summer and for those graduating. They say they plan on coming back to their neighborhoods to inspire the kids coming after them.