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Community Corner

Project Re-Generation Expands Efforts to Employ Teens

A new Youth Employment Plan hinges on Bed-Stuy residents signing up for a clean-up service that gives jobs to local teens, teaching them life skills.

On Monday, Bed-Stuy’s Project Re-Generation, a program to employ teens and set them up for a positive future, will begin an intensive months-long marketing plan aimed at securing new customers, says the Daily News.

In January of last year, to employ High School students 14-18, to sweep blocks, mop and take out their neighbor’s trash for a weekly stipend. In addition, the program also teaches teens how to open bank accounts, volunteer in their community and prepare for the workforce.

Now, according to the Daily News, P R-G is launching a new Youth Employment Plan, because they have too many willing workers, and not enough home signed up for cleaning services. So now, if 10 homeowners on a block sign up, the thrice-weekly clean-up services only cost them $40 each month, as opposed to $55 to $85 per month. 

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Besides outdoor cleaning (and yes, they will shovel snow!), P R-G also offers activities and workshops for teens, on topics like healthy relationships, nutrition, martial arts and exercise.

“I gained more confidence in myself, through my public speaking skills, I wasn't the best speaker before,” Jaheem Kizer, a teen enrolled in the program, told Patch last year. “I learned a lot through on job training and interning."

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