News
Connecting Youth to Careers in Construction
August 2011 – One of the objectives of Massaro Serves, our corporate citizenship program, is to be a leader in workforce diversity and inclusion in the office and field. We are working toward this goal in part through connecting youth to careers in construction. This past summer Massaro Corporation has partnered with YouthWorks, Inc. to build a year-long strategy to do just that.
Youthworks’ mission is to “build a community solution to help young people whose potential might be overlooked to pursue employment and career development opportunities.” Together, a program was created that includes job shadowing, “Professional Day”, a summer internship program and a one-on-one career focused mentoring program for Westinghouse High School students to be launched in October 2011.
Julian Harris, a senior from Obama High, and Aranda Mason, a freshman at City High Charter School, have been working in the Massaro corporate office through the Ready to Work program of YouthWorks, Inc. This program prepares young people for an office environment and provides the employer the support they need. The partnership has been a great success and the students have learned the importance of hard work in a professional setting.
Massaro Corporation is looking forward to continuing the partnership through the mentor program, which is planned to launch in October 2011. The program will have a construction career focus, but will also help students build soft skills and a stronger professional network.
Dara Allen Ware, the executive director of YouthWorks, Inc. has this to say about the partnership:
“Massaro Corporation and its initiative Massaro Serves is emblematic of the deep, corporate investment needed to prepare youth for current and future careers here in the Pittsburgh region. Massaro Serves outreach to youth affords progressive exposure to opportunities for area youth to learn about the construction trades and associated occupations and business units through a three-phase model of career exploration, internship, and mentoring.
This vision to connect youth to mainstream opportunities in the construction industry is not just established from the head of the corporation with the Massaro family but is also shared throughout the company.
They have opened their doors to our youth, made them feel welcome, and are empowering them to build their futures through experience and an expanded network.”