Graduation in August

Robert Sims celebrated two graduations this summer. 

He said goodbye to in June and graduated from Summer Internship Program Tuesday with approximately 50 other teens. 

Sims chose to work at  this summer and says he learned "a little bit of everything."

Even though he's leaning toward going into the landscaping industry, Sims said the opportunity will give him a one-up if he decides food something he'd like to pursue. 

And that is the goal of the whole program, Billy Eisenberg, the director of education and teen programs for North Light, said at the graduation ceremony at the  

"This opens doors for the kids," he said. "It gives them experience."

It's a program North Light has participated in since 1982 and according to Eisenberg, approximately 900 students have graduated since its inception. 

A survey of the graduates showed that 92 percent went on to or graduated from college, 91 percent said the program influenced and improved their feelings toward college and 61 percent said the program improved their academic performance. 

Students can participate in three programs: WorkReady Experience, USLA and Teens 4 Good. 

WorkReady is, according to the program, "a citywide youth workforce development system that served more than 5,000 youths this summer. Teens were able to work up to 102 hours between July 5 and August 15 and attend three hours of professional development seminars per week at North Light. 

USLA, which stands for Urban Sustainability Leadership Academy is a two-year after school program for 11th and 12th graders at Roxborough High School. Faciliated by North Light, the program aims to, "install 21st century skills by focusing on leadership development, urban and social sustainability, awareness of social responsibility, professional development and setting and reaching post-secondary goals."

Teens 4 Good is a youth entreprenuership procude and nutriton business that transforms vacant lots into urban gardens and farms to improve access to healthy food for communities, creates meaningful jobs for youth. 

During the six-week program teens farmed, harvested and sold their produce at farmer's markets. 

"This program really taught us how to work as a team and how to run our own business at the same time," Elbert Upsey said. "We had fun and we got the job done."

Qwiyona Mention, 17, who participated in the program last summer as well, worked with infants at Smart Start Academy which only strengthened her drive to become a pediatrician and work with children. 

Her mother, Aesha Morris, said she was also pleased to come back for a second summer. 

"It's good for them to do," she said. "It's a great way to learn the skills she needs for what she wants to do."

The summer also worked to prepare students for the "real world" Maurice Henderson, a WorkReady monitor said. 

"If they tell you they can't fill out an application, they're lying, if they tell you they can't interview, they're lying, if they tell you they can't create a resume, they're lying," he said. "I have been a stickler all summer to make sure that these kids are working toward excellence."