Summer jobs program helps city, builds experience

Published 10:22 am Monday, June 29, 2015

Vicksburg’s parks and recreational facilities are getting a facelift this summer through the efforts of 13 local students working under summer youth programs supported by city and federal funds.

A total of 13 students — 10 working under the Urban Youth Corps program administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation and three working under the city’s summer youth employment program — have been performing different chores to improve the buildings and grounds at the city’s parks. Wednesday, the group was at Halls Ferry Park.

“We started at Catfish Row last week, and we just finished working at Mission Park (on Mission 66) yesterday,” said Sammie Rainey, city building maintenance superintendent. “When we’re through here, we’ll go to Riverfront Park. “

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At Halls Ferry, the students were pressure washing and painting buildings and washing off the areas by the park’s tennis courts.

Rainey said having the students gives him a chance to handle some projects he can’t usually get to during the rest of the year.

“You give me 13 extra people and I can get a lot of stuff done,” he said.

Safety director James York said there is another advantage.

“We get the opportunity to look for things that may not be safe and need to be replaced, and to do some maintenance on things that need it,” he said.

The MDOT program is funded by a $35,000 Federal Highway Administration grant and is open to youth ages 16-25. It runs through July 17. The MDOT students work 40 hours a week. The city youth workers work a 25-hour week. This is the second year the city has participated in the program. Last year, workers painted the perimeter fence at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Besides providing jobs, the Urban Youth Corps Program holds weekly classes in life skills, teaching participants the importance of good credit, how to open a checking account, job application and interview skills, and personal safety.

Taboris Williams, 19, a Vicksburg resident who attends Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus, is in his second year with the program and a team leader, responsible for overseeing some of the workers.

“I get a lot of hands-on experience,” he said. “I enjoy doing it.”

Frederick Lee Jones, 17, a student at St. Aloysius, is in his first year with the MDOT program.

“It’s fun, but its hard work,” he said. “The classes are held every Monday, and they teach us a variety of things. We’ve learned CPR and they taught us how to apply for a job. I’m enjoying this.”

Vicksburg High School student Feleesha Jackson, 16, is the lone girl in the group. She is also in her first year with the program.

“It’s good,” she said, adding she applied for the program because she was interested in trying it.

“It’s a fun experience,” she said.

Rainey said besides providing the students money for school, “This teaches them about responsibility. About doing a job and doing it well, being responsible for showing up at work on time and about their responsibility to their employer to do a good job and do it right. They learn to understand what is expected of them when they go to work. These are really good kids.”

He said there was another lesson for the workers.

“It impresses the importance of an education. Doing a job like this will make someone appreciate getting a college degree,” he said.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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