Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) Boston
Empowering young people from court-involved or at-risk backgrounds to succeed in the workforce, in the community, and in their lives.
YOU Boston offers young people ages 14-24 an opportunity to work and learn, along with intensive staff support. The support we provide includes case management, education support, subsidized employment, and job placement. This dual approach, of both challenge and encouragement, helps young people take actionable steps toward a better future.
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Have questions? Contact us:
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Donate
The Friends of Youth Opportunity Boston (FYOB) is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. Help give Boston's young people the support they need to succeed by donating today!
Apply for a Summer Job!
Applications are open for the YOU Boston Summer Youth Jobs! Jobs available in Culinary & Kitchen Operations, Entrepreneurship, Cosmetology, Social Responsibility, Customer Service, and Sports Leadership. The Summer Youth Employment program is a shorter, more intensive, version of the Youth Employment program. Young people ages 14-24 can get paid $16.25 an hour and work 20-25 hours a week for 6-8 weeks. The deadline to apply is May 24, 2024.
To be eligible you must:
- Be 14-24 years old
- Live in the City of Boston
- Be available to start July 8, 2024
YOU Boston Jobs Operate in Three Tiers
Placement Tiers
Pre-Placement
Level 1
A two-week, paid intensive job-readiness training. It focuses on key concepts such as decision-making, teamwork, communication, and personal responsibility. Young people have the opportunity to make mistakes, learn from them, and correct their behavior. Participants work 6 paid hours per week.
Bridge Team
Level 2
A meaningful group work experience provided in collaboration with our partners. In a Bridge Team placement, a small group of young people work on a community project with an on-site YOU Boston supervisor. Participants work 12-16 paid hours per week.
Individual Placement
Level 3
A paid internship opportunity for young people to work onsite with a potential employer. These placements range from the private sector to municipal agencies and non-profit organizations. Participants work 25 paid hours per week.
Case Management and Workshops
Case Management
Every young person at YOU Boston has the option of case manager support. Together, they meet one-on-one to establish an Individualized Service Plan (ISP). This plan focuses on achieving self-set goals. Young people meet regularly with their case manager to track goal progress. The ISP helps them to stay focused on their future and celebrate small successes along the way. Young people without a high school diploma or GED can establish an education plan focused on achieving their secondary credential.
Youth Empowerment Workshops
Young people at YOU Boston can take advantage of youth empowerment workshops. These workshops are calibrated to the needs of different peer groups. In fall 2017, for example, YOU Boston provided an ongoing workshop for young fathers and another for teenage girls and young women.
School-Year Youth Employment
The Youth Employment program places young people ages 14-24 in paid, supervised opportunities with community-based organizations. Young people will:
- gain crucial early-life work experiences
- develop job readiness skills
- begin building their resumes, and
- experience the relationship between work and reward.
Participants can work 16-25 hours a week for 6-15 weeks and are paid $16.25 an hour. To be wait-listed for the 2024-2025 School Year, sign up here.
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
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Have questions? Contact us:
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Donate
The Friends of Youth Opportunity Boston (FYOB) is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. Help give Boston's young people the support they need to succeed by donating today!
