Maita Cunningham stands with interns Kaylen Sanders, A’Niya James and Ja’Kaiya Wilson as Mayor Sharetta Smith introduces them at Wednesday’s weekly mayor’s press conference.
Jacob Espinosa | The Lima News
LIMA — A’Niya James said interning for We Care Too Daycare through the GenNext Workforce Development Program is helping her get better at her other job.
Mayor Sharetta Smith celebrated the program at Wednesday’s press conference, noting James and 10 other interns, ages 16 through 24, gained work experience from local employers.
“The summer is important,” Smith said. “We really believe in purpose-driven work, and we believe that when you come to this earth, you come already equipped with what you’re supposed to do. And sometimes that thing is what you’re driving to do that you get excited about.”
James added, “I have another job outside of the daycare, and it helped me make sure I’m there on time and whenever I am supposed to be there. It’s easier to not call off and say to my mom (who runs the daycare) I don’t feel like coming in. It took away that immaturity aspect from me.”
Smith said the program has seen interns complete over more than 1,700 combined hours of job training and earn more than $20,000.
“Our program doesn’t just go out to find jobs for kids,” she said. “We ask the kids what they want to do, and we seek the employers to provide those opportunities.”
James said she wants to be a child psychologist, something that fits perfectly with the early childhood training she is completing.
“We have different days, different kids and different work schedules, so I got to see a range of children coming in all five days with different mental health issues, disorders and disabilities,” she said. “I was able to specialize in helping those children that needed a bit more help and assistance. That is going to help me going into child psychology because it is the same stuff — talking, calming down a child and figuring out ways to help stem their meltdowns.”
Kaylen Sanders, a parks and recreation intern, and Ja’Kaiya Wilson, a public information intern, also shared their stories.
For more information on the GenNext Youth Employment Program, visit bit.ly/3xGhTNW.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
